Police chiefs tight-lipped over ‘yeast infection’ sex slur cop
Politicians lambast ‘wall of silence’
POLICE Scotland is embroiled in a secrecy row over a disciplinary case involving allegedly sexist remarks by a murder cop.
Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Jamieson was probed over claims he referred to a “yeast infection” in a speech about a female colleague but the force is refusing to comment on the outcome.
Jamieson, who has worked on several high-profile criminal probes, ran into trouble after making a speech at a leaving do.
A complaint was made after he allegedly made inappropriate comments about a woman’s clothes and a yeast infection.
One source compared the content to the sexist comments on police drama Life On Mars, in which actor Philip Glenister plays an 80s cop with outdated views.
Jamieson was placed on restricted duties.
The Professional Standards Department probe has come to an end but the force is tightlipped on the conclusion.
Chief Superintendent Andy McDowall, Head of Police Scotland’s PSD, said: “We received a complaint which was progressed by the Professional Standards Conduct Department. That process is now concluded and we will not comment further on this specific matter.
“More generally, sexism and discrimination of any kind is entirely unacceptable. Because of their position, our officers are held to higher standards than ordinary members of the public and this is consistently made clear from the first day of training.
“Where inappropriate conduct is brought to our attention, it will be considered by Professional Standards.”
The force’s silence comes as police forces across the UK face scrutiny over sexism and misogyny.
An employment tribunal recently found the culture in an armed policing unit within Police Scotland had been “horrific” and an “absolute boys’ club”. The tribunal
If women are to feel equal this conduct must be addressed MSP PAULINE MCNEIL ON THE JAMIESON CASE
accepted evidence of a “sexist culture” in the armed response vehicles unit (ARV) in the east of Scotland.
It also emerged that hundreds of cases of sexual misconduct were made against Police Scotland officers over the last four years – yet not one resulted in dismissal.
An independent review into how the force handles complaints, led by former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini, backed all police officer gross misconduct hearings being held in public.
Last night, MSPs demanded to know the Jamieson disciplinary process outcome.
Scottish Labour MSP Pauline McNeill said: “If women are to feel equal and that they are not working in an environment where they are on the receiving end of blatant sexism, then this type of conduct must be addressed.”
“They are not doing themselves any favours with this wall of silence.”
Scottish Tory MSP Russell Findlay said: “The public should be allowed to know the outcome of cases such as this one which involved allegations of crass, sexist comments by a senior male officer.”