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Lord Bracadale has stepped down from his position as chair of the Sheku Bayoh inquiry, a decision he made over two months after initially rejecting calls to resign. The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), representing officers, had raised concerns about Bracadale’s impartiality due to private meetings with Bayoh’s family. Bayoh, a father of two, tragically passed away in May 2015 after being restrained by six police officers in Kirkcaldy, Fife.
The inquiry’s focus has been on investigating the events leading up to Bayoh’s death and the actions taken by the police during the incident. Areas of examination included the handling of the aftermath, the investigation process, and the potential role of race in the circumstances. Lord Bracadale confirmed his resignation in a letter to Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, citing the SPF’s move to bring a judicial review challenging his decision to continue in his role.
The controversy began in April when the SPF initially expressed concerns about Bracadale’s interactions with Bayoh’s family. Despite formal submissions in June requesting Bracadale to recuse himself, he affirmed in August that he would remain in his position. Following his resignation, the SPF acknowledged that his continuation had become untenable but lamented the situation’s impact on all individuals involved in the inquiry. The Scottish government expressed gratitude for Bracadale’s efforts and reiterated its commitment to uncovering the truth surrounding Bayoh’s death.
In his resignation letter, Lord Bracadale noted his meetings with the affected families aimed to establish trust and engagement in the inquiry, given its relevance to their experiences and the overarching issue of race in Bayoh’s case. He stressed that maintaining contact with the families was crucial to prevent their disengagement from the inquiry process. Reflecting on former Police Scotland chief constable Sir Iain Livingstone’s declaration of institutional racism within the force during the inquiry, Bracadale highlighted the importance of restoring confidence through appointing a new chair promptly. The SPF’s general secretary, David Kennedy, labeled the situation as regrettable and emphasized the need to conclude the inquiry efficiently to address the concerns raised
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