Allan’s family reject apology over club footage

THE family of missing Allan Bryant have finally received an apology from police after they took seven months to release images of his last sighting.

CCTV captured footage of the 23-year-old leaving a nightclub, on the night he disappeared in November 2013.

But his relatives have been locked in a dispute with officers over the decision not to release the images until June the following year.

Now the force have upheld a complaint from the family in relation to the delay – which heartbroken dad Allan senior says could have been pivotal to the whole inquiry.

The chief inspector of Police Scotland’s Professional Handling department admits the footage “could have been released at an earlier stage”.

The police chief goes on to offer her “sincerest apologies” for the distress caused to the family.

Allan Snr said he was “furious” and believes the force should offer a reward to anyone who comes forward with information. He said: “The footage was critical for someone coming forward with information and I don’t know why my son’s case was any different.”

Since his disappearance from Styx nightclub in Glenrothes, the family – who staged a demo at Police Scotland’s HQ in Fife – have described the investigation as “treating Allan like nothing more than a missing dog”.

In a review of Allan Snr’s complaint, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner recommended that police reassess the CCTV issue. In the police’s response, newly-appointed Chief Inspector Samantha Ainslie said the images had been of poor quality and needed digital enhancement.

She added the force had wanted to spare the family “unnecessary distress” as they showed Allan under the influence of alcohol.

But she admitted the footage, when made available, proved “beneficial” to the probe.

A statement from the police yesterday: “We remain committed to getting answers for the Bryant family and any information we receive from the community will be assessed and further action taken where appropriate.”

Allan Snr rejected the apology. He said: “They only released it because of pressure from my son’s support page on Facebook.

“I’m never going to forgive the police for what they’ve done and all the heartache and stress it has caused me.

“I want Police Scotland to put a reward up for my son after this. I’m absolutely furious.”