Suspended police chief accused of indecent assault at five-star hotel
One of Scotland’ s highest ranking police officers is under criminal investigation after being accused of an indecent assault at an awards ceremony at a five-star hotel.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Pat Campbell, who leads Police Scotland’s operations against terrorism and organised crime, was suspended on Wednesday as a criminal investigation into the allegation was launched.
The standards watchdog, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner ( Pirc), is investigating the alleged indecent assault at the Scottish Cyber Awards at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh on November 18.
A senior officer can be suspended if an allegation, if proven, was serious enough to amount to misconduct or if the nature of the allegation means suspension is in the public interest. The Scottish Police Authority confirmed the suspension after a criminal allegation was brought to the authority’s attention.
The S PA said: “The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner is investigating this allegation under direction from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
“The suspension is effective from Wednesday, December 1 and will be reviewed regularly, or if there is a change in circumstances relevant to the suspension.”
No details of the allegation have been made public but involves a woman attending the awards. Campbell, who had a leading role before the recent Cop26 environmental summit in Glasgow, is accused of putting his hand or hands on the woman’s waist and stomach and refusing to stop when requested to do so.
It is understood the officer, who is the national force’s executive lead for organised crime, counterterrorism and intelligence, denies any wrong- doing. The alleged incident is said to have taken place in front of witnesses.
Police Scotland Deputy Chief Con stable F iona Taylor said: “I can confirm that a senior officer from Police Scotland has been suspended by the Scottish Police Authority. This is in connection with a criminal investigation being carried out by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner. The chief constable has reviewed Police Scotland’s command structure to ensure the organisation continues to meet operational demand.”
The Crown Office confirmed Pirc had been asked to investigate.
The suspension has emerged weeks after critics called for a judge-led inquiry into an alleged culture of sexism and misogyny in Police Scotland.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Police Service is reviewing the findings of an employment tribunal after it found evidence of sexism in an armed unit covering the East of Scotland.