IN a sensational development at the Scottish Parliament yesterday, Police Scotland admitted that seven serving officers were under investigation for “gross misconduct” over the case of murdered Glasgow woman Emma Caldwell.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has been called in to investigate the alleged gross misconduct which relates to claims that officers in the force’s controversial Counter Corruption Unit (CCU) carried out illegal surveillance on journalists and other police officers who had been investigating the case of Emma Caldwell.
She was found murdered in woods in Lanarkshire in 2005, when she was 27. Caldwell was believed to have been working as a prostitute at the time of her death.
Despite extensive inquiries, no one was ever successfully prosecuted for her murder, and her family campaigned for a fresh investigation which was ordered by the Crown Office in 2015.
The current investigation into alleged police misconduct was sparked following a review by the Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office (IOCCO) in response to fears that police had been spying on journalists who had alleged that detectives had botched the original murder investigation.
In an update on the inquiry, an official Police Scotland document given to the Holyrood Justice Committee’s sub-committee on policing revealed the “Caldwell Seven’s” existence. The report followed an initial inquiry by Durham Constabulary into the work of the Counter Corruption Unit who the IOCCO stated had broken rules on obtaining communications data.
The report to the sub-committee said: “The [Durham Constabulary] inquiry concluded in May 2017 with a detailed report received by Police Scotland.
“As a consequence of the detail contained within this report, it was assessed as appropriate to progress a conduct investigation and, as such, the PSNI undertook a gross misconduct investigation which is ongoing at this time. Seven serving officers are the subject of this investigation, which is anticipated to conclude in the coming weeks.”
Giving evidence to the sub-committee in person, Police Scotland Chief Superintendent Alan Speirs said: “The reality for us is the Durham report became the pivotal report on which the PSNI conduct investigation was founded. It very quickly led to an inquiry that currently involves seven officers.”
He added: “None of the officers are under suspension. The officers who are subject to this investigation at this time are subject to a number of duty restrictions. These officers previously had a role within the Counter Corruption Unit, their current roles are within a different area of the business.”
MSPs also heard that a further force, Northumbria Constabulary, is carrying out a review of investigations into complaints against CCU staff from 2009 to 2016.
Speirs said there were up to 24 complaints with 96 separate allegations, which are “largely historical” and from officers and ex-officers subject to investigation by the CCU.
He said he hoped the report from Durham Constabulary, PSNI and Northumbria Constabulary will be published by Christmas, with personal information redacted.
He said: “It is a very transparent process. It will be obvious where the redactions have taken place.”
The release of the information about the suspensions angered Emma Caldwell’s family who released a statement through their lawyer Aamer Anwar.
It said: “There is real anger and shock that Police Scotland should choose to use Parliament to blurt out such information, thus compounding the agony of the Caldwell family.
“Emma’s family have always felt a deep sense of betrayal at the hands of the first police inquiry team. Sadly, the CCU always appeared more interested in chasing journalists and law-abiding officers than those who let Emma’s killer escape justice.
“However, the first priority for Emma’s family remains the new murder inquiry which 12 years on has given them hope.”
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