The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Probe into Salmond’s staff
Investigation: Police to contact former employees in misconduct inquiry
A police probe into allegations of sexual misconduct against Alex Salmond will span a 20-month period of his career, it emerged yesterday.
Officers are investigating after claims surfaced relating to Mr Salmond’s time serving as the first minister of Scotland.
The force has asked the Scottish Government for the names and contact details of his private office staff between April 2013 and 2014, the Sunday Herald revealed yesterday.
The probe includes the period during the independence referendum.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman refused to give any details of the investigation, saying: “Our inquiries are ongoing and we will not be commenting further.”
Last month, it was revealed that two government staff members had made sexual harassment claims against Mr Salmond while he was in office.
In one of the cases, a woman accused him of multiple instances of harassment and unwanted sexual advances.
She alleged that Mr Salmond instructed her to move from a public room in his Bute House residence to his bedroom, where she said he kissed her and touched her sexually.
The former first minister denies any wrongdoing and has rejected any criminality in his behaviour.
Last month the former Gordon MP resigned from the SNP to avoid “internal division” within the party.
After the allegations made against him were investigated by the Scottish Government – a probe led by permanent secretary Leslie Evans – the findings were referred to Police Scotland.
The police carried out a preliminary assessment of the material which last week advanced to an investigation.
According to the Sunday Herald, police have now asked the government for information about Mr Salmond’s former staffers, including politicallyneutral civil servants.
In a communication from a senior figure in the government human
“Recipients were told the police had made a request for data”
relations team, recipients were told the police had made a request for data including their names, addresses and contact details.
The dates covered are from April 1, 2013 to November the following year.
November 2014 was Mr Salmond’s final month in office, while April 2013 was months before the Scottish Government launched its independence white paper.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “For legal reasons the Scottish Government can make no further comment on the issues relating to Mr Salmond at this time.”
Mr Salmond’s legal representative said: “We have had no contact from Police Scotland. However, we have already written to the Chief Constable making it clear that Mr Salmond will be happy to meet with his officers.”