Watchdog refuses to release records

SCOTLAND’S beleaguered police watchdog is refusing to publish records of key ‘Gormleygate’ meetings – because it would be a breach of ‘data protection’.

Phil Gormley quit in February amid multiple bullying allegations. No record was kept of meetings as former Justice Secretary Michael Matheson blocked a move by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) to bring Mr Gormley back from gardening leave.

The SPA refused to release draft minutes of a meeting about ending Mr Gormley’s leave, despite the body’s chairman Professor Susan Deacon admitting their existence.

Writing to Holyrood’s public audit committee in February, Professor Deacon said the board met on October 31 ‘to review the Chief Constable’s leave arrangements’. But the SPA refused an FOI request by the Mail for the draft minutes in February this year, stating that ‘correspondence in relation to considerations to the Chief Constable’s return’ has been ‘withheld’.

The Mail applied for a review of the decision and the SPA responded that it was now refusing to publish the information because of data protection.

An appeal has been made to Scottish Information Commissioner Daren Fitzhenry, who could order release of the information.

Last night an SPA spokesman said: ‘The SPA explained to parliament in February that it would be inappropriate due to the passage of time and the absence of key contributors for draft minutes in these circumstances to be published.’