Ex-officer awarded £1m in sexism case

Aformer Police Scotland armed response officer who exposed the “ugly and rampant culture of sexism and misogyny” within the firearms department has been awarded a settlement of almost £1 million by the force.

Former constable Rhona Malone won a victimisation claim against Police Scotland following an employment tribunal last year.

She began grievance action after a senior police officer said he did not want to see two female armed officers deployed together when there were sufficient male staff on duty.

The employment tribunal heard that in an email on January 10 2018, which Ms Malone was copied into, he said this “makes more sense from a search, balance of testosterone perspective”.

However, the order was never implemented as another senior officer told supervisory staff that the email did not represent the views of senior management and was not to be actioned.

The tribunal accepted evidence that there was an “absolute boys club” culture within the armed response vehicle team.

In its judgment in October last year, the employment tribunal upheld Ms Malone’s claims of victimisation, however her claim of direct discrimination was dismissed.

A joint statement from Police Scotland and Ms Malone said a settlement, including a payment of £947,909.07, has now been agreed.

Ms Malone’s solicitor Margaret Gribbon, of Bridge Employment Solicitors in Glasgow, said: “Former PC Malone is relieved that this long, costly, and stressful litigation is at an end.

“She and those police officers who gave evidence on her behalf performed a vital public service exposing the ugly and rampant culture of sexism and misogyny from within Police Scotland’s firearms department.

“Former PC Malone’s case must serve as a watershed for Police Scotland.”

Ms Malone transferred to the post of authorised firearms officer based in Edinburgh, Fettes Team 1, in October 2016 and was absent from duties with work-related stress from June 24 2018 until her retirement on April 2 2020.

The agreed statement issued on behalf of Police Scotland and Ms Malone said: “The chief constable has provided a personal apology to Ms Malone for the serious issues

highlighted in the employment tribunal judgment, including Police Scotland’s poor response when a dedicated and promising officer raised legitimate concerns.

“In the days after the judgment was issued, the chief constable made a commitment to commission an external

police service to carry out an independent review of the employment tribunal decision and make any recommendations which require action by Police Scotland whether they relate to performance, conduct, or culture.

“The Police Service of Northern Ireland is finalising that work.”

VICTIMISED: Rhona Malone was a police firearms officer.