£800K bill for police investigation

POLICE chiefs spent more than £800,000 on the probe into allegations against Alex Salmond.

Chief Constable Iain Livingstone confirmed a 14-strong team, based at Fettes Police Station in Edinburgh, worked on Operation Diem.

In a letter to MSPs, Mr Livingstone said: ‘The team was comprised of seven officers from August 2018, rising to a maximum of 14 between October 2018 and July 2019, before steadily reducing in 2020.

‘The indicative costs of this staffing profile is just over £810,000. In addition there were non-staff costs of just over £24,000.’

The details were in a letter sent to Holyrood’s public audit and post legislative committee convener Jenny Marra, after Mr Livingstone’s appearance. Mr Salmond was cleared of 13 sexual assault charges, including attempted rape, last year.

The former First Minister and Miss Sturgeon gave evidence to the Scottish Government’s investigation into allegations against him. Miss Sturgeon is accused of multiple breaches over her handling of the judicial review, which she denies.

The result of a separate inquiry led by James Hamilton, QC, over whether Miss Sturgeon broke the ministerial code is expected over the coming days.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Costs for any police investigation are a matter for Police Scotland.’