Cop watchdogs are in sum mess
Scottish Police Authority slammed over ‘shocking’ mismanagement of money
HUGE pay-offs at the Scottish Police Authority are the “most shocking” example of mismanagement at the watchdog, an MSP claimed yesterday.
Labour’s Jackie Baillie was among several politicians who queued up to blast the SPA at a brutal Holyrood committee hearing.
Much of their fury was directed at financial decisions made by ex-SPA chief executive John Foley.
Foley, who stood down last month, appointed three temporary senior staff at a cost of more than £334,000 and authorised £67,000 in relocation payments for deputy chief constable Rose Fitzpatrick.
Baillie said: “This is probably the most shocking example I’ve seen of financial mismanagement and poor judgement about accountability and poor financial judgement made by the accountable officer, in this case Mr Foley.
“We’ve heard eyewatering sums of money, quite extraordinary expenditure, signed off by him without reference to the board.”
Former SNP Government minister Alex Neil accused the director general of the justice department, Paul Johnston, of failing to give “credible” evidence to the committee.
He was being questioned on rumours that ex-SPA chairman Andrew Flanagan had called for chief constable Phil Gormley, who is being probed over allegations of gross misconduct, to be reinstated.
Chairwoman of the SPA Susan Deacon said: “Since taking up my post less than three weeks ago, I have become increasingly concerned about the way in which some previous board decisions have been taken.”