Nearly 100 sex claims made AGAINST the force in first five years
NEARLY 100 sexual assault and harassment complaints have been made against Scots police and staff in five years.
Since the inception of Police Scotland in April 2013, 70 people are alleged to have been sexually assaulted by serving officers or civilian workers. And 28 claim to have been victims of sexual harassment. Allegations include verbal, physical and non-physical sexual harassment such as sending letters or emails of a sexual nature.
Complaints were made by staff within the police, including officers, and members of the public.
Documents released under Freedom of Information legislation show the force has carried out nearly 100 investigations.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said the figures could indicate ‘a serious problem at Police Scotland when it comes to sexual assault and harassment’.
He said: ‘It’s incredibly concerning that so many cases have been reported in just a few years.’
The Police Scotland figures show 55 members of the public have accused officers and staff of sexual assault since 2013, with another 18 claiming to have been sexually harassed. They also show 15 employees, both officers and civilian staff members, claimed to have been sexually assaulted by others in the force, while ten claimed to have been sexually harassed.
Of the 28 sexual harassment allegations, ten were dismissed, 12 upheld and six were still being investigated.
Of the 12 complaints found proved, four resulted in the accused resigning, four were given formal warnings, three received ‘corrective advice’ and one was dismissed. The outcomes of the sexual assault allegations were not provided to the Scottish Daily Mail.
According to Police Scotland all complaints are ‘recorded, investigated and appropriate action is taken depending on the outcome of each investigation’.
Last night, Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Liam McArthur said: ‘Police officers and staff do an amazing job keeping us safe.
‘However, where there is any concern about their conduct that needs to be treated with the utmost seriousness.
‘The public needs to have full confidence that such reports are fully investigated.’
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs, the force’s head of professional standards, said: ‘Police Scotland takes every complaint about the sexual conduct of officers and staff very seriously indeed, and robustly investigates each one.’