Holyrood sex claims to be logged by police
POLICE have created a database to monitor allegations of sexual harassment at the Scottish parliament.
One in five people working at Holyrood has suffered sexual harassment, with MSPs cited as the perpetrator in nearly half of all cases, a staff survey published this year shows.
Now police have set up a drive named Operation Concrete to monitor allegations – and ensure that repeat offenders can be spotted immediately.
A freedom of information request revealed details of Police Scotland’s response to sexual harassment complaints linked ‘to either members/staff of the Scottish or UK Parliaments’.
The document states: ‘A spreadsheet of all enquiries will be maintained with restricted access. This will ensure that repeat perpetrators are easily identified.’
No complaints have been logged by police on the database, launched in November.
It includes a suicide prevention strategy to help politicians when a claim is made against them. Plans are also laid out for media management and early involvement from Crown Office prosecutors.
Superintendent Laura McLuckie said: ‘A recording method for any reported incidents of a sexual nature involving MSPs or parliament staff was initiated. This included use of the national intelligence database and provided the force with a central point of collation.’
The survey this year attracted 1,039 responses. In 45 per cent of cases, the perpetrator was an MSP, while in 40 per cent of incidents it was a member of staff.
Seventeen per cent of respondents said there is a culture or atmosphere which discourages the reporting of harassment, while 18 per cent said there is a need for long-term ‘cultural change’.
Former childcare minister Mark McDonald is the only MSP to have been publicly named following a complaint.
He was castigated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland for creating an ‘intimidating, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment’ with messages he sent to a fellow MSP’s member of staff, and is to be suspended from parliament for a month.
Claire Baker, co-convener of Holyrood’s crossparty group on men’s Violence Against Women and Children, said: ‘Sexual harassment has no place in modern Scotland. It remains far too prevalent in society including in Scottish politics.
‘The Scottish parliament needs to make clear this type of behaviour is unacceptable and does have consequences for the perpetrator.’
A parliament spokesman said: ‘We take a zero tolerance approach to harassment and any complaints will be investigated.’