Politicians demand more information on cover-up probe

MSPs have sent Scotland’s police watchdog a raft of questions about a cover-up scandal at a defunct crime-fighting agency.

The Scottish Parliament’s policing committee say it is essential that there is robust scrutiny of events at the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency in 2011 when officers were ordered to burn piles of sensitive files.

Officers at the SCDEA were ordered to burn files from the chaotic and potentially-criminal Special Operations Unit outside the agency’s HQ in Paisley.

Critics say Police Scotland, which reviewed the destruction of the files before asking the Met to review their review, has failed to identify which senior officers ordered the destruction of documents and why and, critics say, tried to cover-up a cover-up.

Police Scotland’s investigation, called Operation Towering, concluded there was nothing more to investigate because the SCDEA was disbanded in 2013.

MSPs believe there are unanswered questions.

In a letter to the SPA, convener of the policing committee John Finnie MSP said further scrutiny by the SPA is required. The ex-police officer wants to know whether the board was given access to the Met’s review before it was discussed. He has also asked whether the board intends to take evidence from the Met and report to the Scottish Government.

His letter also asks if the SPA intends to report to Parliament or answer the questions posed by The Sunday Post after exposing the scandal.

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur said: “It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to look at the facts of this investigation as they currently stand and say that something is up. If, as the police claim, these are legacy matters and they have turned over a new leaf, there will surely be no difficulties in acceding to this request.”