MISCONDUCT allegations against one of Scotland’s top police officers have been dropped but it is still not clear whether he will face criminal proceedings.
Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins, pictured, who was suspended from duty in November by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) after the allegations were made, returned to work in March. He denies the allegations and has described them as vexatious.
The SPA has now decided there is no case to answer with regard to the allegations of misconduct, which were made anonymously.
A spokeswoman said: “The SPA’s Complaints and Conduct Committee met on April 24 to consider allegations made against a senior Police Scotland officer.
“The committee’s consideration was informed by an independent report by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) in relation to these allegations.
“The committee determined that the senior officer had no case to answer in respect of either misconduct or gross misconduct and will take no further action in respect of these allegations.”
She added that the committee did not consider allegations currently under consideration by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), saying: “The committee will consider these allegations once a decision has been made by COPFS.”
Reports were sent by Pirc to COPFS and the SPA in March regarding Higgins, the former relating to criminal allegations and the latter to misconduct allegations.
A Crown Office spokesman said: “Pirc has submitted a report to COPFS concerning allegations against five officers who were serving with Police Scotland.
The report remains under consideration,”
A Pirc spokesman added: “Reports were submitted in March to the COPFS, in relation to allegations of criminality against Police Scotland officers, and to the SPA, in respect of misconduct allegations about a senior officer, for their consideration of any appropriate action.”
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