Crown Office investigated over disclosure delays. PROSECUTORS based at the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in Edinburgh have become so resistant to Freedom of Information legislation - officials at the £110m a year public body have in some cases, taken up to six months to reply to Freedom of Information requests.
Details of the delays – which some contend were deliberate - came to light in documents disclosed by the Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC) – Rosemary Agnew – who has been forced to conduct a number of ‘interventions’ with public bodies across Scotland after serious failures in adherence to Freedom of Information legislation came to light.
Details released by the SIC - Public bodies subject to interventions by Information Commissioner - reveal in one of the ten interventions conducted by the SIC since September 2015 - the Crown Office was investigated for multiple and lengthy delays of many months per request in responding to Freedom of Information requests.
The secretive, almost unaccountable public body currently run by Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland - which manages criminal prosecutions across Scotland is now subject to monthly monitoring as a result of the SIC’s investigations and meetings between senior staff from the Scottish Information Commissioner’s office and the Crown Office.
A document obtained from the SIC states: “Head of Enforcement (HOE) and Deputy Head of Enforcement (DHOE) met with COPFS 8/1/16 to highlight issues. Agreed to meet in 07/16 to discuss progress. HOE also reviewing COPFS procedures. COPFS subject to monthly performance monitoring.”
Allegations have since been raised by journalists a deliberate policy of delay was being orchestrated by COPFS staff in relation to FOI requests
And, in a sinister move by prosecutors - a number of enquiries to the Crown Office in relation to requests for media statements on activities including large fraud investigations involving individuals and accused persons known to have links to Crown Office personnel – have resulted in reporters being denied media quotes and told to turn their communications into FOI requests.
Monitoring of how the Crown Office complies with FOI legislation comes at an unwelcome time for prosecutors, after it was revealed Crown Office staff & prosecutors have been charged with serious criminal offences, reported here: CROWN CROOKED: Crown Office crime files reveal Scotland’s Prosecutors & staff charged with Drugs crimes, Police assault, threats & perverting the course of justice.
A number of other public bodies are named in the documents including, Police Scotland, Scottish Ministers, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, NHS Scotland Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority & Falkirk Council.
In the data release it is revealed Police Scotland scored the most number of interventions from the Scottish Information Commissioner’s office, totalling three interventions at various levels.
In one case, details release by the Scottish Information Commissioner reveal Police Scotland maintained a practice of sending out locked pdf documents with security protocols forbidding their printing.
A file disclosed by the SIC in response to an FOI request stated: “Asked Police Scotland to change its practice and stop sending us (and applicants) locked pdf documents, which can't be printed out.. We are still waiting for an accessible copy of a document required for case 201501763.”
“Police Scotland has raised the issues of locked documents and undated letters internally.” The issue is subsequently referred to as: “Issue resolved”.
In a Level two intervention with Police Scotland, files released by the Scottish Information Commissioner reveal details of Police Scotland’s information publication scheme.
The SIC asked Police to conduct a “Review of publication scheme (guide to information) from time to time. Proactive publication in the public interest.”
Police Scotland was then “Asked to review guide to information due to broken links etc. and currency of information.”
From information now made public by the SIC, the issue was raised with Police Scotland on 12/11/16 and a reminder issued on 18/02/16. The SIC appears to be awaiting an outcome.
In one of two interventions with the Scottish Government, documents disclosed by the SIC revealed there was a concern at the lack of knowledge of Freedom of Information at the Scottish Government.
Details of the level one intervention with Scottish Ministers revealed: “Meeting with the Office of the Office of the Chief Researcher, instigated by them. Recorded as a level 1 intervention as concerns about level of FOI knowledge within major area of Government.”
“Note of the meeting is on file.Practice areas:- who is covered by FOI. Seemed unaware that Universities are- Section 60 Code IRO contracts and procurement- sections 27, 33 and 36 specifically.”
Power to Intervene:
Powers granted to the Commissioner by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (FOISA) allow the Scottish Information Commissioner to intervene where it is identified that an authority’s practice is or may be: (i) in breach of its statutory duties under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) and/or the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (the EIRs); (ii) falling short of Government guidance, particularly the Section 60 Code.
Anyone who makes a Freedom of Information request to a public authority can request an intervention by the Scottish Information Commissioner, if the public authority in question does not adhere to FOI legislation.
The SIC’s website states: “All interventions will be appropriate and proportionate, and based on robust and accurate evidence.The term “Intervention” covers a range of activities: from providing advice and assistance to authorities in relation to good practice, to formal enforcement action carried out under the Commissioner’s Enforcement Policy.”
Levels of interventions conducted by the Scottish Information Commissioner:
Level 1: These are minor failures to follow good practice. In these cases, we will provide informal advice and assistance to authorities, pointing out the failure and suggesting remedial action. In such cases, individual officers are empowered to give advice to authorities if a relevant failing is identified as a result of an application or enquiry to us and to decide what follow-up action is required.
Level 2: These are ongoing failures by an authority to follow good practice in a specific area of practice. In these cases, an appropriate manager (DHOE, HOE, HOPI or the SIC) will contact the authority to discuss the issues and suggest remedial action. Level 2 interventions will require follow-up contact with the authority to ensure that appropriate action has been taken.
Level 3: These are more serious or systemic failings which have been identified and we do not consider the issue can be rectified without requiring the authority to put in place an action plan to address the issue. In such cases we may invite an authority to carry out a self- assessment using one or more of the modules in our self-assessment toolkit.
Level 4: These are when an authority consistently fails or refuses to comply with FOISA, the EIRs or statutory guidance despite previous interventions by us. In these cases, we may issue (or give warning of our intention to issue) a practice recommendation in terms of section 44 of FOISA specifying the steps that an authority must take in order to conform with its duties under Government guidance. Alternatively, we may issue (or give warning of our intention to issue) an enforcement notice under section 51 of FOISA requiring an authority to take specified steps to comply with Part 1 of FOISA or with the EIRs. We may also decide to carry out an on-site assessment of an authority’s arrangements for handling information requests.
First I heard of foi interventions so thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteCops are handing out FOIs with locked acrobat pdfs??
ReplyDeleteNot very sporting.Agnew should be right in there with enforcement orders and mega publicity.
have been met with the crown office 'get lost on comment and make an FOI' approach a few times ..
ReplyDelete"concerns about level of FOI knowledge within major area of Government."
ReplyDeleteWell well well.
Shouldn't the SIC be putting out a Press Release about this?
Forgive me for being a cynic but I rather suspect the lack of knowledge is a mask for the must avoid Freedom of Information as much as possible on wee Nippy Secret's orders no less.
as in copfs using delays in attempts to conceal investigations on their own relatives
ReplyDeleteWhy would public bodies issue locked documents in reply to Freedom of Information requests other than to hinder or prevent wider distribution of their content and who approved this policy?
ReplyDeleteRather than just some wave through from Rosemary Agnew and the SIC staff with a small entry on a piece of A4 there should be a full publication of the facts of what occurred and who sanctioned these attempts to prevent the public knowing the full facts of whatever information was requested and disclosed.
This is Freedom of Information being undermined by the very people who are supposed to uphold the law and fight crime.
A disgrace.
Obviously the cops are so out of control they were even sending these locked files to the information commissioner herself and not one bloody peep out of anybody about it!
ReplyDeleteGood article catching out the major justice players.
ReplyDeleteHowever - the Scottish Information Commissioner says in the document you published “Meeting with the Office of the Office of the Chief Researcher, instigated by them. Recorded as a level 1 intervention as concerns about level of FOI knowledge within major area of Government.”
“Note of the meeting is on file.Practice areas:- who is covered by FOI. Seemed unaware that Universities are- Section 60 Code IRO contracts and procurement- sections 27, 33 and 36 specifically.”
Someone needs to get right into this one pronto because I do not believe for one minute there is a lack of knowledge of FOI within major areas of the Scottish SNP Government.
More like there is a dearth of knowledge and training at the Scottish Government on how to avoid FOI and fiddle requests so no one finds out what the govt and public bodies are up to behind out backs.
How about the £10 billion China contract with the dodgy Chinese companies anyone? How did we find out about that? First I saw was in the Scottish Sun and the SNP told the paper to make an FOI request instead of giving out a media comment.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/7045994/Nicola-Sturgeons-investment-link-up-with-China.html
Nicola Sturgeon’s ‘investment' link-up with China
Details of pledge remain a mystery
By CHRIS MUSSON, Scottish Home Affairs Editor
3 Apr 2016
NICOLA Sturgeon has struck a secret deal with Chinese construction giants thought to be worth £10billion.
The First Minister met with state officials at Bute House days before Holyrood broke up for the election campaign.
But the Scottish Government refused to reveal details of the ’Memorandum of Understanding’ signed at the meeting.
And the pledge — believed to centre on upgrades to Scotland’s rail network — only emerged after reports in the Chinese press.
It comes at a politically sensitive time as China faces criticism for hammering the British steel industry with cheap imports.
Ms Sturgeon was quoted as saying: “The Scottish Government has continuously made the case that Scotland is open for business and we have an economy that is rife with investment opportunities.
We have been co-operating and engaging with China since 2007 and this will strengthen our economic links.”
The deal was signed by Dr Peter Zhang, managing director of SinoFortone, and Sir Richard Heygate, an advisor for state-owned China Railway No.3 Engineering Group.
China’s consul-general to Scotland Pan Xinchun and the country’s government advisor Dr Laing Ma were also at the event.
Stagecoach tycoon and SNP donor Brian Souter was also quoted over the agreement.
But the Scottish Government refused to reveal the details, and said The Scottish Sun would have to submit a freedom of information request — which typically takes a month for a reply.
A spokeswoman added: “No investment has been confirmed — any investment in any specific project would of course be confirmed publicly in the normal way.”
Last night Scottish Labour’s James Kelly said: “There are serious questions to answer here from the SNP.
“Why did they sign a secret deal and keep it from the Scottish people, and the Scottish Parliament?”
An SNP spokeswoman insisted the deal was not about steel.
Sir Brian could not be reached last night.
No wonder the SNP Scottish Government wanted to keep the secret China deal away from Freedom of Information and the papers look how corrupt is the company and I see one of your own Law professors warned about the deal
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-joins-scots-party-7730394
Law professor warns SNP over 'corrupt' Chinese firms as government is urged to cut ties with China Railway Group
11 Apr 2016 11 Apr 2016 By Andy Philip
THE PARTY has been warned not to go ahead with further business deals after corruption was exposed as Sturgeon considers a £10 billion investment contract with the exposed firm.
The SNP are under renewed pressure to distance themselves from a Chinese business group after fresh warnings of corruption.
Ola Mestad, who wrote a damning report on China Railway Group for Norway’s oil fund , said he is surprised the Scottish Government agreed to consider them for future investment deals.
The law professor, who was chairman of Norway’s Council of Ethics, highlighted likely “gross corruption”, leading to the company’s exclusion from the fund portfolio.
He said: “The Scottish Government should definitely read our recommendations.”
Nicola Sturgeon last month signed a “memorandum of understanding” with the group and SinoFortone, paving the way for a potential £10billion investment in Scotland.
The First Minister insisted no firm plans were agreed. But last week Sir Richard Heygate, a UK adviser to the firms, who claims they’re “squeaky clean”, said proposals for 5000 affordable homes were discussed.
It emerged yesterday that global anti-corruption body Transparency International are calling for the full release of details on the memorandum.
And Labour and the Lib Dems demanded disclosure of any involvement of Stagecoach founder Sir Brian Souter.
Scottish Labour’s Jackie Baillie said: “The SNP Government must once and for all publish all documentation about this deal.”
An SNP spokeswoman said: “The memorandum of understanding has already been published – it does not involve any agreed projects, doesn’t commit to using any Chinese steel and ministers had no discussions with Brian Souter over it.
“Any specific proposed projects will be subject to rigorous due diligence.”
Souter’s spokesman said: “Brian had nothing to do with the deal that was signed, but he was SinoFortone’s first port of call and gave them a contact at the Government.”
how many times did Police Scotland send locked files to the public and the Scottish Information Commissioner?
ReplyDeleteHello Scottish Parliament Justice Committee wherever you are how about doing some digging?
This is just as bad as cops spying on the press wouldnt be surprised if there is more to it than just locked files get cracking people!
More on the dodgy secret China deal with the SNP Government going behind the backs of local authorities (Falkirk Council) and Falkirk Council are mentioned in the interventions files although on a different subject
ReplyDeleteNo wonder Sturgeon wanted to keep the whole China deal thing out of reach of Freedom of Information
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14429030.Sturgeon_signed___10bn_deal_with_Chinese_firm_after__flat_pack_houses__plan_snubbed_by_council/
Sturgeon signed £10bn deal with Chinese firm after 'flat pack houses' plan snubbed by council
Nicola Sturgeon signed a MoU deal with the Chinese two firms after one had been rebuffed by a Scottish council
5 days ago / Magnus Gardham and Daniel Sanderson
A CHINESE firm that wants to invest billions of pounds in Scotland after signing a deal with Nicola Sturgeon was knocked back by a council over concerns about a housing development it wanted to build.
Falkirk Council was approached by a representative of China Railway No 3 Engineering Group (CR3) with a proposal to build an affordable housing scheme.
But the local authority rejected the bid amid concerns about using housing units pre-fabricated in China, reducing the amount of work that would be created for local tradesmen and businesses.
Officials also feared the proposed deal might be in breach of strict procurement laws, which require jobs to be advertised across Europe.
The local authority confirmed that the Scottish Government then stepped in to broker talks between the council and Sinofortone, the second Chinese firm to sign a controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the First Minister.
A spokesman said the Government had taken part in the discussions about possible development sites at the meeting, a statement that appears to contradict the SNP’s insistence that no specific projects are under discussion with the Scottish Government and that engagement with Sinofortone is at a "very preliminary" stage.
Ms Sturgeon has been under pressure over the deal, which opens the door to £10bn of Chinese investment in Scottish infrastructure, since its existence was not disclosed by the Scottish Government and it emerged that CR3’s parent firm has been blacklisted by Norway’s oil fund due to an "unacceptable risk that the company is involved in gross corruption".
Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s finance spokeswoman, said the latest revelations over Ms Sturgeon’s “secret deal” raised more questions and that the First Minister "needs to start telling the truth, fast".
She added: "Falkirk Council said they knocked back a deal with this Chinese company because it wouldn’t create jobs – the SNP now need to urgently spell out the details of what the Chinese Consortium propose for Scottish projects.
"The SNP turned a housing shortage into a housing crisis, Nicola Sturgeon would be selling Scotland short if she is trying to solve Scotland’s housing crisis on the cheap.
"Nicola Sturgeon said there were no proposals on the table – but that story has now been completely blown out of the water. We have a Scottish council explicitly saying that the SNP Government and one of the companies in the consortium discussed specific plans.
"Nicola Sturgeon has simply not been telling the truth and that is completely unacceptable. Having signed a secret deal, the SNP have sought to mislead Scots about what the details where.
"This deal stinks and it has done from the very beginning. It’s time for the SNP to come clean about this deal and publish all the documents relating to it going back to when discussions first started."
second part of the dodgy China deal story http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14429030.Sturgeon_signed___10bn_deal_with_Chinese_firm_after__flat_pack_houses__plan_snubbed_by_council/
ReplyDeleteMs Sturgeon has stressed the MoU is merely a commitment to explore possible investment opportunities and no firms plans have been agreed.
However, Sir Richard Heygate, the firms' UK advisor, said there were hopes for affordable housing projects totalling 5000 homes in Edinburgh, Falkirk and Ayrshire worth £500m.
Falkirk Council confirmed officials were approached by an agent acting for CR3 late last year but said no deal was done. It is understood the firm was working in association with a UK-based affordable housing specialist and sought a contract to provide around 1000 homes.
However, senior figures at the local authority were concerned about the proposed use of "flat pack" housing units pre-fabricated in China. They also feared the deal would fall foul of procurement rules.
After the company's proposals were knocked back, the Scottish Government stepped in to ask Falkirk Council to meet representatives of Sinofortone.
Council officials met with Sinofortone and provided the firm with information about the local development plan, investment brochures and details of possible development sites. Scottish Government officials also took part in talks over possible sites.
No proposals have been agreed but some figures within the council - run by a Labour-led coalition - fear the Scottish Government is trying to engineer a deal behind the backs of councillors.
A Falkirk Council spokesman said: "We were approached by agents acting for both China Railway No 3 Group and Sinofortone in late 2015.
"As we would with any developer, we provided general information on our local development plan as well as information relating to potential sites for investment and house building.
"Subsequently, we were asked to establish an agreement with China Railway No 3 however their approach was not in an appropriate form we could progress and, to date, the matter has not been taken forward. We have not heard anything further from Sinofortone."
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “As we have said, the memorandum of understanding signed with SinoFortone relates to exploring investment opportunities in Scotland. No investment has been confirmed and no deals have been agreed.
“The Scottish Government would not enter into any deal that broke procurement rules or disadvantaged the Scottish economy.”
Very worrying to learn that so many 'public' institutions vital to any functioning democracy have so much to hide. Don't hold your breath waiting for the SNP to change that.
ReplyDeleteGiven the severity of what is going on with public bodies such as the Police and Crown Office who are clearly flouting the law because they know they can get away with it how about Information Commissioner Agnew doing more Level 4 interventions instead of the lower end ones and publish all of it instead of brief references to notes of a meeting and no details of who said what.
ReplyDeleteScotland became very corrupt no?
ReplyDeleteGo to the newspapers own websites to read those stories and there are pics of Sturgeon signing the deal off that only got out because the Chinese mistakenly put it on their own website to give them bragging points!
ReplyDeleteThe bungs on this one must be gigantic lots of Panamanian accounts in relatives names and so on!
Once watched a case in Glasgow where the Sheriff told the PF he did not trust him or the evidence presented against the accused.Doesn't say a lot for the Crown does it when their PFs are lying in court and the judge says it aloud for everyone to hear.So given they are lying in court I am not surprised the same lot avoid answering the foi.By the way when the case finished and the PF was outside the court talking to a crowd of vulture looking lawyers and called the sheriff a rat b*****d and a few other things and they were laughing and carrying on like the yobs they are
ReplyDeleteJust to inject a little humor maybe these corrupt companies read your blog discovered who are the main crooks in Scotland and approached them with bribes to do deals in secret?
ReplyDeleteLets face it you write about and expose the most seedy sneaks and corrupt vile powerful scum on the go all have plenty to hide all are dishonest and liars and any or all of these power mad gangsters will have just as many bungs stashed away in offshore bank accounts in their families or pets names as corrupt politicians do in other countries.
Bribes bungs corruption rotten prosecutors in bed with criminals corrupt judges crooked courts dodgy lawyers hitmen rotten politicians cops one hell of a blog!
SNP selling Scotland to China and Qatar will sell us out to anyone just to gain control for themselves
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/secret-papers-reveal-government-wanted-7724392
Secret papers reveal government wanted Alex Salmond to sell Edinburgh Airport to Qatar
10 Apr 2016 By Mark Aitken
FORMER First Minister Salmond was to try to convince oil-rich Qatar to buy Scotland's busiest airport during a visit in 2011, FOI documents have revealed.
SELLING Scotland’s busiest airport to the rulers of Qatar was top of Alex Salmond’s agenda during a trade mission, secret papers reveal.
Briefing papers prepared by civil servants before the then first minister travelled to the Gulf in 2011 reveal touting Edinburgh Airport, then up for sale, was a priority.
The former first minister also tried to convince the oil-rich state, which has been attacked for its record on human rights, to invest billions of pounds in green energy projects.
Salmond insisted yesterday that, despite the sale of the airport being near the top of a list of priorities included in the briefing papers, he did not mention it to Qatar’s leaders.
The papers for Salmond’s visit to Qatar, released under freedom of information laws, detail his pitch to Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the country’s leader until 2013.
Details come days after Chinese media revealed Nicola Sturgeon signed a £10billion investment agreement with Beijing and critics accused SNP ministers of being too eager to deal with questionable regimes.
Salmond’s briefing notes say the purpose of the summit in the Gulf state was to “promote collaboration between Scotland and Qatar in the low carbon sector, to highlight investment opportunities within Scotland, to explore opportunities for a direct air service between Scotland and Doha and to promote the opportunity to purchase Edinburgh Airport”.
It was for sale at the time because of anti-monopoly rules that forced then-owners BAA to sell Edinburgh or Glasgow Airport.
Scotland’s links to Qatar have come under scrutiny since it won the chance to host the 2022 World Cup.
Hundreds of migrant workers have died in appalling working and living conditions after being recruited to build the tournament’s roads, hotels and stadiums.
Yesterday, Labour’s Neil Findlay said: “Coming after the SNP signed a secret deal with a Chinese consortium, these revelations bring up yet more questions of the deals the SNP are trying to do behind the backs of the people of Scotland.
“The SNP Government tried to hush up the fact Alex Salmond was trying to punt Edinburgh Airport five years ago and tried to suppress signing a deal potentially worth billions with a Chinese consortium mere weeks ago.
“While he was touting Scottish assets, Alex Salmond barely seemed to mention human rights, while Nicola Sturgeon professed ignorance about allegations of corruption on the part of one of the companies involved in the China deal.
“The SNP need to be honest with the people of Scotland about the deals they are trying to cut.”
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/secret-papers-reveal-government-wanted-7724392
ReplyDeleteEdinburgh Airport was up for sale at the time
As first minister, Salmond faced criticism over his courting of tycoons such as Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch, which he defended by claiming he was helping bring investment to Scotland.
Yesterday, he insisted he did not discuss the airport’s sale with Sheikh Al Thani.
He said: “I never even discussed the issue of investing in Edinburgh Airport with the then emir. I knew that there was no shortage of both international and domestic bidders for Edinburgh.
“Indeed, I’d already had meetings with some of the potential investors with a view to securing Scottish participation in their consortia.
“That would not have been known to the civil servants who prepared the 90 page notes from a Foreign Office briefing.
“In the economic part of the meeting with the emir, I concentrated on the value added of seeking Qatari investment for Scotland’s marine renewable industry, which was not successful, and also establishing a direct air link with Scotland, which was successful.”
Global Infrastructure Partners bought Edinburgh Airport in 2012.
It was revealed last week that Sturgeon penned a memorandum of understanding with SinoFortone and China Railway No 3 Engineering Group (CR3) on March 21.
The news only emerged in China’s media as the Beijing regime came under fire for dumping cheap steel on Europe while imposing huge tariffs on imports.
Sturgeon admitted she was not aware that CR3’s owners, China Railway Group, faced corruption allegations which led Norway’s oil fund to blacklist the firm.
She said vetting of partners would take place only after firm deals were struck.
But Sir Richard Heygate, who advised CR3 and signed the deal, said there were discussions about three projects – 5000 new homes in Falkirk, Edinburgh and Ayrshire, a biomass plant in Ayrshire and an unspecified railway project – and that construction could start within a year.
Sturgeon is facing questions about the involvement of SNP donor, transport boss Brian Souter, who was quoted on SinoFortone’s website praising the deal.
A Sunday Mail investigation two years ago exposed horrific conditions suffered by workers on infrastructure projects for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
We revealed how labourers were dying from heart attacks and heat exhaustion in temperatures topping 40C but they couldn’t leave the country without their employers’ permission.
The Qatari authorities promised reform but two weeks ago an Amnesty report said workers building World Cup stadia were still caught in “a living nightmare”.
Last month, we revealed how international development minister Humza Yousaf appealed to Qatar for £1.3billion to pay for motorways and hospitals but did not raise concerns about the slave conditions of migrant workers.
Both Edinburgh and Glasgow airports were among those owned by the British Airports Authority until competition watchdogs ordered them to break up their monopoly. Global Infrastructure Partners bought Edinburgh airport for £807million in 2012.
A Scottish Government spokesman said yesterday: “It is right for the Scottish Government to promote opportunities for the investment required to support Scotland’s prosperity.
“The Scottish Government are firmly committed to acting as a good global citizen and stands against human rights abuses wherever they exist.”
you better check out the Qatar angle because the judges will be mixed up in it one way or another!
ReplyDelete“Asked Police Scotland to change its practice and stop sending us (and applicants) locked pdf documents, which can't be printed out.. We are still waiting for an accessible copy of a document required for case 201501763.”
ReplyDeleteAny idea what this case is all about?Must be an interesting one if the cops are withholding the goods..
Anonymous @ 21 April 2016 at 09:29
ReplyDeleteStill some more to come out on the Qatar angle, however the judiciary did play their own part in the selling of Scotland & influence peddling power manipulation game ...
Lord Gill went off on a 5 day state visit to Qatar allegedly on a judicial ethics lecture tour while protecting his judicial colleagues from having to declare their creative finances, interests and links to big business.
Read more about it here: LORD JET SET: Scotland’s top judge Lord Gill takes 5 day STATE VISIT to Qatar as investigation reveals judiciary's international travel junkets spree