Police took hours to help terrified woman

soon as we can”. Over an hour later she called again saying the men were now trying to open her door.

According to the complaint, call handlers told the woman officers were at the scene. But, again, they failed to arrive.

After the two men verbally abused her, she called cops for a third time at 10.49pm.

Officers finally arrived at 11.22pm – but the culprits could not be traced.

The woman complained officers had taken an excessive amount of time and that a call handler she spoke to left her feeling an “inconvenience”.

Her complaint was immediately probed by independent watchdog body, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner ( PIRC). It agreed officers took “excessive” time to respond.

However, the complaint about the tone of the staff at Bilston Glen was not upheld. Police say the mix-up happened due to officers on the ground and not at the controversial call-handling centre near Loanhead, Midlothian.

Last night, politicians and campaigners slammed the latest scandal.

Scottish Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone said: “Nearly three hours to respond to a call of this magnitude is unacceptable by anyone’s standards.

“It’s clear action has to be taken to sort this out.”

Heartbroken mum Diane revealed the family had not yet been informed of a PIRC probe into Lamara’s death.

She added: “We’re in limbo. It has been an awful time.”

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “The recommendations contained in this complaint handling review are currently being considered by Police Scotland.”