‘ Hillsborough- style cover- up’ claims
Critics blast botched health board probe
thought it appropriate not to seek further independent evidence or to interview any witnesses.”
The Divsional Commander went on to say that a report from the police was provided to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service ( COPFS) after they asked for guidance on the issue.
He added: “For clarity I should state that this submission to COPFS was not a prosecution report and was never considered to be such.”
Mr Wilson has now written to Scotland’s acting chief constable, Iain Livingstone, demanding an outside force probe the case.
Penning a letter on behalf of the Action for a Safe and Accountable People’s ( ASAP) NHS campaign, he said: “These senior police officers have failed to detect, investigate, prosecute, and also prevent crime.
“In policing terms it is ‘ Scotland’s Hillsborough’. The police have now had four chances on this, and Police Scotland demonstrate that their senior officers have not got the capacity to do the basics of policing let alone deal with incidents in healthcare. There can be no reliance on Police Scotland to deal with healthcare and the law.
“They cannot, of course, now judge themselves on the deaths. It requires that the reports involving the many deaths and ongoing offences must now be referred to another police force.”
He added: “The reply from the Chief Superintendent shows Police Scotland not having the faintest grip on principles of evidence, with no attempt at securing evidence let alone corroboration. They show that they have no knowledge of the law that applies. They have no idea how healthcare is organised and the legal responsibilities, or even the rudiments of policing.
“It shows the force is not capable of handling incidents in healthcare. It is a total shambles. As an attempt at a cover- up of police failings it is not very good as it demonstrates even worse failings.”
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “We acknowledge the outcome of the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner’s complaint handling report and have responded to Mr Wilson in regard to the PIRC’s recommendations.
“In discharging one of these recommendations we met with Mr Wilson this week to gather further information.
“A s i n d i c a ted in our correspondence with Mr Wilson it remains our position that the report and documents submitted to COPFS were sufficient to enable a decision to be made on the matter and no further investigation has been instructed.”