Investigations into police ‘damaging’

The body that represents Scotland’s most senior police officers has hit out at watchdogs over the “lengthy and damaging” investigations into allegations of misconduct.

The Scottish Chief Police Officers Staff Association (SCPOSA) - which represents Police Scotland’s chief constable, as well as assistant and deputy chief constables - has questioned the time it takes the Scottish Police Authori- ty (SPA) and the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) to conclude inquiries.

In a submission to MSPS on Holyrood’s justice committee SCPOSA complained that “disproportionate, lengthy and damaging enquiries appear to be undertaken with no route of challenge existing”.

The process for investigating allegations against senior officers was set out in the legislation which created Police Scotland as a national force.

But SCPOSA claimed the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 has “inherent flaws” which have not been addressed, despite concerns being raised with both the Scottish Government and the SPA. And with the committee now examining the impact of the legislation, it has called for a review of the accountability of both the SPA and the Pirc.

Former chief constable Phil Gormley quit the post in February, five months after he had been placed on special leave amid investigations into claims of gross misconduct.