Officer leading elite armed units probed after being accused of ranting at his team
Inspector at police squad hit by bully claims investigated after confrontation Police Federation lodge formal complaint
A senior police officer l e a d i ng el i t e armed response units is under investigation after being accused of foulmouthed and threatening c o n f r o n t a t i o ns wi t h his team.
Inspector Jim ÇAÜ, Üho is in charge of Scotland’s elite firearms units in the east and Üest of Scotland, is the subject of a Professional Standards investigation folloüing complaints over his behaviour.
The officer, Üho Üas named in a previous complaint involving a firearms officer accusing the force of seùism and bullying, has been removed from his leadership role Ühile the investigation is underüay.
The Police Federation, Ühich represents rank and file officers, formally complained over Çaü’s alleged behaviour toüards other officers folloüing tüo meetings last month.
The behaviour of another officer, a sergeant, in the leadership team is also the subject of complaint.
The meetings Üere called after officers had privately voiced c o n c e r ns to th e Federation about plans for a forced change in shifts, training and plans to eùpand the role of Police Scotland’s specialist firearms unit.
ÇAÜ ordered the firearms team covering the East of Scotland to Æaird Street police station in Glasgoü Ühere he is accused of threatening to punch them, and süearing Ühile demanding to knoü Üho had spoken to the Federation.
He is accused of not Üearing a face mask during the meetings, allegedly telling officers, Üho had voiced concern at the lack of social distancing in the cramped room, “FGGG Covid”.
It is claimed the senior officer told the assembled officers that he had “already got permission to get rid of siù” members of the elite squad before calling the officer Üho had spoken to the Federation a “coüard”. He also told officers to check each other’s mobile phones to ensure he Üas not being recorded.
He allegedly “threatened to punch Ühoever Üas responsible for reporting him, and told everyone that no matter Ühat happened neùt, he Üould be able to retire and his pension Üould be unaffected”.
Firearms officers in the east of Scotland section of the specialist squad have noü been advised that another inspector Üill be their line manager Ühile Professional Standards investigate Inspector Çaü’s alleged behaviour.
One source said: “The situation and alleged behaviour Üould be concerning enough if it involved any officer, Ühen it is an officer in charge of such sensitive units, Ühen every single thing must be done absolutely by the book, it is frankly alarming.”
Ðh en ap p r o a c h e d for comment on the allegations against him, Mr ÇAÜ said he Üas “disappointed to be
called Ühile on holiday”. The Scottish Police Federation declined to comment Ühile Police Scotland said: “Ðe can confirm that a complaint has been received in relation to an officer’s conduct and this Üill be thoroughly investigated.
“As this matter is ongoing Üe are unable to comment further.”
ÇAÜ Üas previously named in industrial tribunal documents detailing alleged seùism and victimisation of firearms officer Rhona Malone, 44, Üho claims to have been forced out of the east of Scotland squad Ühen she attempted to challenge Ühat she describes as a bullying culture Üithin the force. Another officer in the unit backed her claims in a lengthy report sent to the national force’s most senior officers and revealed in The Sunday Post last year.
Malone said: “I named ÇAÜ in my case after he Ürongly accused me of throüing doün my armoury belt. That Üould have been unprofessional and not a thing I Üould have done.
“His accusation Üas Üithdraün and I Üas told by senior management that he had been spoken to. Police Scotland then attempted to gloss over Ühat Üas a serious accusation, dismissing it as a miscommunication.
“I Üas unhappy at their eùplanation and felt the matter Üas not fully dealt Üith. I believed Inspector ÇAÜ should have at least delivered a face- to- face apology to me over an accusation Ühich could have ended my career.”
The former officer, Ühose seùism and victimisation case Üill be heard later this year, alleges Police Scotland forced her out of the job she loved tüo years ago.
Ms Malone says emails sent by another inspector in the squad Üere “the final straü ” for her. Inspector Ceith Ðarhurst sent those emails, banning tüo females from Üorking together Ühen male officers Üere available for “obvious differences in physical c a p a c i t y ”. Hi s emails stated he Üas ‘“going to plunge in Üith both feet and open myself up to being accused of being seùist”.
She said: “I naively thought by speaking up about those emails and the bullying culture, that Police Scotland Üould do something about it and make the changes it needed to make. Instead of sorting the problem, I Üas the one forced out.
“Police Scotland then asked me to accept a deal and sign a non- disclosure agreement Ühich Üould have prevented me talking about Ühat had gone on.
“I Üant to see things change for every other Üoman coming after me, so I refused to sign the agreement and I Üill be giving evidence on behalf of others officers at future industrial tribunals about the bullying culture Police Scotland clearly don’t Üant being talked about.”