Married police chief accused of groping woman is back at work
He’s earning up to £99k a year but still faces probe
A SENIOR counter-terrorism police officer suspended after being accused of inappropriately touching a woman is back at work despite an ongoing complaints probe.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Pat Campbell was referred to the police watchdog after a complaint in December last year.
A report was sent to the Crown Office but after examining the evidence, prosecutors decided in May no further action would be taken at that time.
Now the Mail can reveal Mr Campbell is back at his desk working as a detective chief superintendent, which has a maximum salary of £99,541.
This is despite the fact the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) is still considering his case and whether he should face any sanction.
A police insider said: ‘Even though a decision was taken not to prosecute, the SPA has to look at whether there should be any further implications for his career, even if the threshold for criminality was not reached, and that process is still ongoing.’
Police Scotland confirmed married Mr Campbell is a serving officer.
An SPA spokesman said: ‘We don’t comment on individual complaint and conduct matters.’
Mr Campbell, who denied any wrongdoing, was contacted for comment.
On his LinkedIn profile, he says he is a Police Scotland detective chief superintendent with a ‘wealth of experience in a variety of policing roles’. He adds he is a ‘motivational leader with high ethical and professional standards’.
He took up the temporary assistant chief constable role in December 2020 and headed the Organised Crime and Counter-Terrorism Unit.
His suspension was authorised on December 1 last year.
The SPA said the ‘decision was taken after a criminal allegation was brought to the authority’s attention’.
A Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) probe was launched into the circumstances of the incident, which is alleged to have taken place at a cybercrime conference in Edinburgh.
The PIRC submitted its findings to the Crown Office but in May it said no further action against him was planned. A Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal spokesman said at the time: ‘After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, the procurator fiscal decided there should be no proceedings taken at this time.
‘The Crown reserves the right to proceed in the future should further evidence become available.’
Last night, the Crown Office said its position was unchanged.
Scottish Tory justice spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘Eyebrows will be raised over the fact this police officer has returned to work while still under investigation from the SPA. Once again, the SNP’s bro ken police complaints system seems to raise more questions than answers.’
IT IS understood a ‘handful’ of candidates will be interviewed next week to replace Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr, who is to head Devon and Cornwall Police.