Police probe into missing £48,000 is under way

A police probe is under way after more than £48,000 went missing from the accounts of Scouts Scotland.

Bosses at the Fife-based charity called in investigators after the “fraudulent and unauthorised expenditure” was uncovered during an audit.

The group, based at Dunfermline, had to pay out an additional £22,250 to outside experts in a bid determine the full extent of the scam. The charity is out-of-pocket by more than £70,000 and hopes it will be able to recover some of the funds through its insurers.

Scouts Scotland runs the largest mixed volunteer-lead movement for young people in the country with almost 40,000 members.

Katie Docherty, chief executive, wrote to the 12,000 adult volunteers and said: “I want to bring your attention to the annual accounts. It relates to our internal financial systems and controls being overridden, which resulted in fraudulent and unauthorised expenditure.

“The charity faced unexpected expenditure of £48,142 and an additional £22,250, required for the resulting professional costs.

“This matter was reported to Police Scotland and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator as soon as it was discovered.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We are investigating a report of fraud at a charitable organisation within Fife and inquiries continue.”