SNP ‘interfered to astonishing level’ in police chief ’s job
SCOTLAND’S Chief Constable was a victim of ‘astonishing’ Government interference that made it impossible for him to survive, it was claimed yesterday.
A senior police source, who asked not to be identified, said Phil Gormley was caught in a ‘perfect storm’.
Mr Gormley quit on Wednesday amid a political row after Justice Secretary Michael Matheson blocked a decision by the independent Scottish Police Authority (SPA) to allow him back to work.
He had been on ‘special leave’ since last September, facing multiple ‘gross misconduct’ bullying allegations.
The bullying probes by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner have been dropped.
The row over alleged Government intrusion in policing deepened last night after the insider told the Mail that Mr Gormley, 54, who denies all the allegations, had underestimated the task of taking control of Police Scotland.
The source said: ‘The allegations are a manifestation of the build-up of frustrations on all sides – from him, his command team and his close support team.
‘Mr Gormley was in an unenviable position’
Add in political and Government involvement that, in days gone by, would have been absolutely unheard of and an SPA that was desperately unsteady and unclear about the application of its role: it was perfect storm conditions.
‘There was a lot of Government interference – they were all over stuff... to a quite astonishing level. It just wasn’t like that pre-April 2013. And I think a single service is a good thing. But the extent to which the Scottish Government wields influence is something that probably caught him unawares.’
The insider added: ‘Mr Gormley was in an unenviable position. He got caught between an SPA in some turmoil, a Government which likes to exert a firm grip on key areas like policing and a dilemma over trying to balance the books. He inherited a back office that hadn’t been touched in areas like finance and human resources and is still in some respects set up to serve eight forces but has been shoehorned into supporting one.
‘I think he would have done his homework before coming, but if he had any notion this would be like leading a big English force or the like... No. The landscape is inherently different. I genuinely don’t think he realised the extent of it. You’ve got to be a deft blend of top cop, chief executive, strategist – politically savvy.
‘If he’d come into an organisation that was fully formed top to bottom and was stable financially, he might have stood a chance. Or more of a chance.’
Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘This is more evidence that SNP interference in a supposedly independent body is endemic.
‘SNP ministers may think they can throw their weight around where it’s not welcome but these revelations show the impact can be extremely damaging.’
An SPA spokesman declined to comment.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The independence of operational policing is clearly enshrined in the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act. We will continue to support the service to carry out its work, free from any political interference.’
Meanwhile, the Scottish Tories have called for changes to allow misconduct probes to continue after officers have left their jobs.
But a Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We have no plans to change the regulations.’