MICHAEL Matheson has resisted calls for a Scottish inquiry into undercover policing.
The Justice Secretary said he was not convinced a probe into the use of covert police officers, or spy cops, by Scottish forces would be in the public interest.
There had been pressure on the SNP minister to launch an investigation following the set up of the Undercover Policing Inquiry in England and Wales.
That was established after a series of revelations about undercover officers sent to infiltrate political groups, including police spies coercing women into forming intimate relationships, and stealing the identities of dead children.
However, a review by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) said undercover policing had been “used effectively” in the 423 operations they’d been deployed in north of the border since 2000.
The Inspector added that there had been no evidence of the sort of behaviour that prompted the English and Welsh inquiry
The officers had been used in cases dealing with “drug-related offences, child sexual abuse and exploitation, human trafficking and exploitation and serious organised crime.”
HMICS did say that officers from Metropolitan Police’s controversial Special Demonstration Squad and National Public Order Intelligence Unit had been deployed in Scotland between 2000 and 2016.
The Justice Secretary told MSPs: “We have seen no evidence of the sort of behaviour by Scottish police officers that led to the establishment of the Undercover Policing Inquiry.”
“I’ve considered carefully whether I should establish a separate Scottish inquiry under the Inquiries Act.
“In all the circumstances I am not satisfied that establishing a separate inquiry is necessary or in the public interest.”
Labour’s Neil Findlay, who has long campaigned for an inquiry, was not happy.
He said: “By refusing a public inquiry or to look beyond the year 2000 the cabinet secretary fails victims, many of them women, and fails our democracy.
“Now the only people on the mainland UK who will not have access to justice are Scottish victims.”
Green MSP John Finnie, himself a former police officer told Matheson: “You need to take charge of this situation, you need to call an inquiry, you need to assert your independence in relation to this. This is a Scottish matter – please deal with it.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel