Tayside officer charged in drugs squad investigation

A TAYSIDE Police drugs squad off icer has been suspended and charged with assault after a probe into the unit’s activities by an outside force.

Senior Tayside off icers uncovered “matters of concern” about how certain officers in the squad went about their duties and reported their misgivings to the procurator fiscal.

Drugs squad off icers from Grampian Police were called in to investigate and were unimpressed by what they found at the Tayside force.

They reported their findings to the Tayside chiefs and they took swift action. One officer in the drugs squad — a 40-year-old man — was suspended with immediate effect and charged with assault over his alleged conduct in more than one incident.

He has not yet appeared in court.

Yesterday a spokeswoman said: ‘‘ Tayside Police identified matters of concern about the working practices of certain individuals and, following discussions with the procurator fiscal, requested that a neighbouring force conduct an independent investigation.

“Tayside Police can confirm that a 40-year-old serving police officer was suspended with immediate effect in January 2012 after he was charged in relation to alleged assaults.

“It is not appropriate to comment further at this time.’’

Last night a spokesman for the Crown Office confirmed that a neighbouring force had been asked to conduct an independent investigation.