The short version
- Approximately forty-five serving police officers in Scotland are currently suspended due to allegations involving violence against women and girls.
- The suspensions coincide with a mandatory re-vetting of thousands of staff members, a procedural change introduced after the Sarah Everard murder case.
- An independent review is examining how former officer Alan Greer passed background checks despite prior reports of criminal behavior before his recent suicide.
Police Scotland has confirmed that approximately forty-five serving officers are currently suspended from duty. These suspensions stem from allegations involving violence against women and girls, according to Chief Constable Jo Farrell. The force clarified that while the number hovers between forty and fifty individuals, not all cases involve active criminal investigations at this stage. Some personnel may be subject to internal disciplinary proceedings or other administrative actions rather than formal police inquiries.
Farrell described the prevalence of violence against women in Scotland as an epidemic, noting that law enforcement agencies are not immune to such societal issues. She indicated that more accusations regarding misconduct by serving officers were likely to emerge. The chief constable emphasized a commitment to identifying wrongdoing and ensuring that individuals found guilty face appropriate legal consequences. This stance comes amid heightened scrutiny of police conduct following several high-profile cases involving former officers.
The current situation follows the exposure of Alan Greer, a former officer who was identified as a serial rapist after taking his own life in May at age forty-seven. Investigations revealed that Greer had attacked and attempted to murder women over a fourteen-year period. Crucially, he had passed vetting checks to join Strathclyde Police in two thousand nine, despite having two prior reports of criminal behavior against women on his record. An independent review is now underway to determine whether gaps in the vetting process allowed his offending to continue undetected.
Greer is one of three former officers exposed as rapists this year. In July, Cameron Ross was sentenced to ten years in prison for raping two women and threatening another over a decade. Ross has since launched an appeal against both his conviction and sentence. Additionally, former sergeant Campbell Petrie was convicted last month of multiple sex attacks committed between two thousand six and twenty twenty-three. Petrie had been suspended after being charged in December twenty twenty-three but retired from the force two years later.
In response to these failures, Police Scotland has initiated a comprehensive re-vetting process for its workforce. New regulations introduced earlier this year allow the force to remove officers who fail background checks, a significant shift from previous policies that lacked mechanisms for exiting unsuitable personnel. Farrell noted that between three hundred and four hundred officers have already undergone this new vetting procedure. Approximately six thousand officers and two thousand civilian staff members still require re-evaluation under the updated standards.
The regulatory changes were implemented following the murder of Sarah Everard by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, which sparked national debate over police accountability and safety protocols for women. Farrell described the ability to exit problematic employees as a welcome development, stating it provides necessary tools to address misconduct effectively. The focus remains on identifying criminality within the ranks and ensuring transparency in how allegations are handled.
First Minister John Swinney expressed full confidence in Police Scotland and the renewed vetting process, supporting the leadership's efforts to restore public trust. Meanwhile, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary Craig Naylor stated that incidents involving officers are taken very seriously when reported. He highlighted ongoing work over recent years to improve vetting procedures and police conduct, acknowledging areas where improvements have been identified.
The independent review into Greer’s case will examine whether opportunities were missed to identify his behavior earlier. Parts of this review will be made public, offering insights into systemic vulnerabilities within the force. Farrell stressed the importance of learning from these failures to prevent future occurrences. As the re-vetting process continues, the force aims to balance thorough scrutiny with operational effectiveness, addressing both immediate allegations and long-term cultural reform.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC News↗Forty five Scottish police officers suspended over alleged crimes against women, says chief constable
