INVISIBLE MAN MATHESON
OPPONENTS HIT OUT AT MINISTER OVER GROWING CATALOGUE OF FAILURES ON HIS WATCH Michael Matheson (aka Invisible Man) broken Needed to help out Scotland’s justice system but has vanished Cops in chaos and court delays leave distraught families waiting for a
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson was yesterday accused of acting like the Invisible Man while the country’s criminal justice system goes into meltdown.
Police Scotland have been plunged deeper into crisis as it emerged senior officers in their elite firearms unit were suspended amid claims of criminal misconduct. Matheson has been in charge of Scotland’s justice system since November 2014. Since then it has lurched from one disaster to another after a string of high-profile controversies. There have been claims of corruption, cuts and low morale in the police, while the Scottish Police Authority watchdogs have been hit with bullying claims. It was revealed on Friday that a fatal accident inquiry will be held into the Clutha tragedy. But it may not be until autumn 2018 – five years after the crash which killed 10 people. Matheson has claimed Scotland is safer now than it was a decade ago. But opponents have criticised his performance in office which has left the justice system in a state of chaos. Labour justice spokeswoman Claire Baker MSP said: “We’ve seen crisis after crisis in Police Scotland and the SPA, frontline cuts and critical report following critical report. Throughout all this, Matheson has been missing. “We’ve gone from Kenny MacAskill, who couldn’t stay out of the papers, to Michael Matheson, who seems more like the invisible man. “The Government cannot hide from the mistakes they’ve made and the failures happening on their watch. Responsibility and justice cannot continually be delayed. Families deserve answers.” The deaths of Lamara Bell and John Yuill, who lay undiscovered by the M9 for three days in 2015, and the death of Sheku Bayoh in police custody the same year have also caused a backlash. Their grieving families have been denied closure by a delay in fatal accident inquiries. Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said there had been “cavalier mismanagement” of the police and justice system. He added: “Police Scotland look chaotic, the Scottish Pol ice Authority have been in turmoil and fatal accident inquiries into the M9 case, Clutha and the death of Sheku Bayoh are backing up, depriving people of justice. “Michael Matheson must answer for the state of our justice system.” It was revealed in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday that seven police off icers face a misconduct probe over a botched murder case. They are on restricted duties whi le being investigated for gross misconduct over breaching spying guidelines in a bid to uncover journalists’ sources. Cou nt e r - cor r upt ion officers began the probe after reports in the Sunday Mail about failings during the inquiry into the unsolved 2005 murder of Emma Caldwell. Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland ordered that the murder inquiry be reopened in the wake of our story.
The Caldwell family’s solicitor Aamer Anwar, who also represents Sheku’s relatives, said yesterday: “It has been over two and a half years since Sheku Bayoh died in police custody and the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner stood accused of failure – yet the Lord Advocate still cannot decide whether officers should face criminal charges.
“Emma Caldwell was murdered over 12 years ago and yet her family have to deal with counter-corruption officers who appear more interested in chasing law abiding officers and journalists for exposing the betrayal of justice.
“Prosecution and defence lawyers on the ground speak of a crumbling system.
“I believe Mr Matheson has the compassion and resolve to act, but he must l e a d now before it is too late.
“Too many families, v ict ims andd off icers are waiting for theirir voic e s t o be heard.”
SPA chairmanan Andrew Flanagangan announced in June he was quitting amid concerns of transparency and bullying.
And Chief Constable Phil Gormley has been on “special leave” since September while the PIRC investigated five complaints made against him.
Earlier this month we told how fami l ies of those ki l led in major tragedies and victims of crime had been left in limbo by Crown Office delays.
Their senior law off icer, Lord Advocate James Wolffe,was appointed by Matheson last year.
Senior legal figures have claimed Scotland’s prosecution service is vastly under-funded, which has contributed to hold-ups in delivering justice. Fami lies of the Clutha tragedy have criticised the Crown’s
decision to announce there will be no criminal proceedings before they hold the FAI. Prosecutors say there is “insufficent evidence” to bring criminal charges. Last night, Matheson said: “Every hour of every day Scotland’s police officers and staff, working with other justice professionals and public services, are keeping people safe from harm and saving lives, while supporting those who do fall victim to crime or other serious incidents to recover. “Scotland is safer now than a decade ago – with less crime and stronger laws to tackle crimes such as sex offending and human trafficking. “Scotland’s unified police service have been key to much of this progress, while this Government have put in place govegovernance and oversight arrangements arrangem through the SPA and an the PIRC which have ha introduced an unprecedented un level of scrutiny and transparency. tra “IIt is absolutely right we allow these agencies, and as apappropriate the Crown, to investigatein matters where wher serious allegations have been made about the actions action of individuals, and not to comment upon them while tthey do so.”