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Eleven officers within Police Scotland, including eight found guilty of violence against women and girls, remain on the payroll despite their criminal convictions. Chief Constable Jo Farrell disclosed this information in a letter addressed to the Scottish Parliament’s justice committee. She highlighted that additional officers are facing undeniable evidence of wrongdoing, yet are not being dismissed swiftly due to limitations in the current disciplinary procedures.
Farrell emphasized that the annual expense of keeping 80 suspended officers on salary amounts to £4.5 million. She attributed this financial burden to outdated conduct regulations and the prolonged duration of legal processes. In her letter, she described the existing situation as “intolerable” and urged for reform and modernisation of the police conduct framework to ensure faster resolution of such cases.
This revelation comes amid several recent high-profile convictions of police officers involved in rape cases. Among those convicted—Derek McNee, Campbell Petrie, Carmichael John Williamson, and Cameron Ross—have been removed from the force. Another officer, Alan Greer, who was exposed as a violent serial rapist through a BBC investigation, tragically died by suicide following a police raid on his home. Additionally, it was reported last month that 45 officers are suspended due to allegations of violence against women and girls.
Farrell’s letter to justice committee convener David Linden called attention to the lengthy and inefficient disciplinary process. She noted that current regulations do not permit the fast-tracking of dismissals, even when evidence is conclusive. The Chief Constable stressed that prolonged suspensions negatively affect officer welfare, drain public funds, and reduce available policing resources. She also mentioned that between 300 and 400 officers have undergone re-vetting under new rules introduced following the murder of Sarah Everard by a Metropolitan Police officer.
The justice committee is considering proposals to enable Police Scotland to act more decisively where convictions are involved. Farrell expressed strong support for efforts to modernise conduct regulations, accelerate hearings for serious offenses, and increase transparency in case outcomes. She also endorsed a trauma-informed approach to handling witnesses and complainants.
Justice Secretary Neil Gray affirmed the Chief Constable’s concerns, acknowledging the need for quicker resolutions in cases of officers convicted of serious crimes. He highlighted that new regulations introduced to Parliament are intended to enhance Police Scotland’s capacity to respond promptly, improve transparency, and strengthen victim and witness support, while maintaining proper safeguards
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