On 23 February 2023, just days after Nicola Sturgeon announced her resignation as First Minister on 15 February 2023 - Chief Constable Iain Livingstone announced his own resignation and intention to ‘retire’ from leading Police Scotland – with a lengthy departure date of August 2023.
However, in the weeks which followed the Chief Constable’s long goodbye to Scotland’s decimated national Police service - Mr Livingstone took the opportunity to brand Police Scotland as Institutionally discriminatory, institutionally sexist and instructionally racist.
What followed was a very scripted set of headlines involving public inquiries, SNP politicians praising the outgoing Chief Constable, and gangland representing lawyers seeking their own ego boosting headlines in what many came to realise was a carefully orchestrated exercise in press releases and organised spin.
However – Chief Constable Iain Livingstone was certainly not wrong in his accusations against his own Scottish National Police service.
Indeed, across five years of presiding over Police Scotland, the outgoing Chief Constable – who was branded unfit to lead Police Scotland by former Assistant Chief Constable Angela Wilson, and a host of public critics & campaigners – must shoulder some of the blame for a dysfunctional Police Service which – at low points – assisted the Lord Advocate & Crown Office in fitting up prosecutions against persons whose crimes did not exist – most notably the Administrators & Accountants of Rangers Football Club.
However, fitting up prosecutions on a £100 Million scale with the cooperation, orders even – of Scotland’s top law officers, top prosecutors and even with the evidenced involvement of the judiciary itself in the plot to lock up a few accountants for events which were mostly made-up – are but one entry in a long list of greed, avarice & corruption within Scotland’s National Police service and across key stakeholders in Scotland’s justice system – from the Crown Office to the Scottish Government itself.
But lets not kid ourselves everyone. We knew it all along, right?
The Scottish Government and it’s slavishly political, critic & media hostile - intensive Civil Servant-Special Adviser Policing group – were hell bent on control of almost every facet of Policing in Scotland and were grimly determined to ensure Scotland’s National Police Service drifted into the same chasm of control freakery, public relations and spin as the SNP Scottish Government live by each day and eek out their grim control over public life until the next week and the next scandal.
Few surprises there - as control freakery, PR and spin is so typical of the way the Scottish Government and every public organisation and regulator in Scotland operates – when faced with questions and scrutiny of the level of wrongdoing & dishonesty in whichever public authority is under the microscope that particular day.
To back up Iain Livingstone’s scripted admission of institutionally everything-wrong at his own five year grip on power Police Scotland, a series of senior officers were paraded on television to support the Chief Constable’s claims – with absolutely not one sounding believable in any of their responses.
And, to round off the increasingly diversionary campaign of ruining the reputation of Policing in Scotland to take the cameras and attention away from high profile political resignations and investigations into political funding – which appear to be more focussed on what they cannot prove rather than going after actual events and a rather complicated set of – lets call it “Heather Capital” type activities – the Chief Constable’s sexist, discriminatory & institutionally corrupt Police Service scandals were capped off with an arranged slew of new female officer appointments and the appointment of a female Chief Constable to replace Mr Livingstone.
If only it would be advantageous to publish the chat apps content of senior lawyers, civil servants and others on these few weeks of a dodgy Scottish National Police Service, and the dodgiest of dodgy Scottish Governments, ever.
Lets return to some of those issues in the headlines.
For years – cases of wrongdoing in policing – from the time of Scotland’s eight forces to the creation of Police Scotland by the SNP Scottish Government in 2014 – have been looked at by blog journalists.
The numbers are big, the pay-outs to victims even bigger, the wrongdoing, corruption, sexism, misogyny, vendetta witch-hunts of sources to journalists, pursuit of police officers who lodge legitimate grievances on issues relating to their service - and targeting of whistle-blowers has been – and remains to this day – off the scale.
It should not surprise readers that private law firms, solicitors, ‘leading’ members of the Faculty of Advocates & even some members of Scotland’s judiciary – have also collectively gained millions of pounds of public cash over the past decade in burying scandals for Police Scotland and forcing victims to sign Non Disclosure Agreements to prevent anyone talking to the media, public, their families and friends - or even their elected political representatives and the Scottish Parliament.
Readers can view earlier Freedom of Information disclosures obtained by blog journalists here Police Scotland - Non Disclosure Agreements FOI - 2019 which give some idea of the scale of pay-outs and a very limited understanding of the level of institutional wrongdoing at Police Scotland.
More than 20 victims of discrimination and wrongdoing who received financial compensation from Police Scotland were gagged from speaking publicly and the FOI material reveals Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) were used in at least 21 cases in which pay-outs totalling £677,389 were made to police officers, civilian staff and members of the public.
At least ten police constables, an inspector, a sergeant and four civilian workers were found to have signed Non Disclosure Agreements, involving a variety of discrimination disputes on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, disability and age.
Other Non Disclosure Agreements involving Police Scotland related to wrongful arrest, personal injury and unfair dismissal and a whistle-blower was required to sign an NDA.
In the figures which go up to the year 2019 – Scotland’s National Police service paid an additional £203,380 to cover victims’ legal fees – bringing the total cost to taxpayers to £880,769 over six years.
Initially – and as is routine with all Scottish Public Authorities – Police Scotland refused to identify the law firms which received public cash in relation to Non Disclosure Agreements. The data was only obtained after requests for FOI Reviews were lodged – naming the following law firms in figures: Clyde & Co solicitors £50,782.20, Morton Fraser Solicitors £72,162.56, Thorntons Solicitors £4,910.40.
And in an additional refusal by Police Scotland to identify law firms involved in Non Disclosure Agreements – again for figures up to 2019 – the same law firms were again identified in an FOI review disclosure – Morton Fraser Solicitors £22,208.80, Clyde & Co solicitors £41,460.01
Police Scotland’s key role in the malicious prosecution of the Rangers Administrators has been well documented on this blog PROSECUTION ADVOCATE: Conflicts of interest, failure to recuse & judge swapping in court - Rangers Admin malicious prosecution case illustrates why Scotland’s Prosecutors & Judiciary must be required to register, declare & publish all their interests - and publish all details of judges’ recusals from court hearings, and more widely in the media.
There also remains no further disclosure by Police Scotland into the allegations of five serious sexual assaults against the outgoing Chief Constable Iain Livingstone – information which Police Scotland refused to release to Freedom of Information requests by blog journalists in an article reported earlier here: TOP COP SECRETS: Transparency lacking at Police Scotland as spy scandal cops refuse to disclose files on complaints & historical sexual assault case details involving Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone
Curiously, in the past year – several media publications published articles identifying outgoing Chief Constable Iain Livingstone as a “Frontrunner” for the positions of Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service for London , and “Frontrunner” for the post of Director of the UK National Crime Agency.
As readers will be well aware - both positions were filled by other candidates.
Interestingly and perhaps coincidentally - INTERPOL – the International Police Agency recently announced – apparently after much lobbying – the annual Interpol General Assembly is to be held next year in Glasgow, 2024.
The choice, which would be as odd as a group of environmental campaigners choosing to hold their gathering in the middle of an oil refinery – is coincidentally slated for the same year to which candidates for the 2025 Interpol Presidency will begin lobbying for their chance to follow several well known – and even some later jailed figures – to become the new Interpol President in 2025.
A previous example of Interpol Presidency candidates cite the following:
The Minister for Africa (Harriett Baldwin)
Interpol is currently holding its general assembly in Dubai, and a UK delegation, led by Lynne Owens, the director general of the National Crime Agency, is there at the moment. Interpol is electing a new president at the general assembly after former Interpol president and Chinese Vice-Minister of Public Security, Meng Hongwei, resigned from the position on Sunday 7 October after Chinese authorities confirmed that he had been detained and is being investigated on anti-corruption charges.
Two candidates have formally declared for the post and remain in the running as candidates. They are current acting president South Korean Kim Jong Yang and Russian vice-president—one of four vice-presidents—Alexander Prokopchuk. Members of Interpol at the general assembly will vote on the next president on Wednesday. We do not speculate on the outcome of the election, but the UK supports the candidacy of acting president Kim Jong Yang.
Can the Minister confirm that the British Government are doing all they can to campaign against the candidacy of Mr Prokopchuk? Will she confirm that, until recently, he was head of the central bureau in Russia and was directly responsible for the issuing of red notices, which have been abused and used against opponents of the Putin regime—such as Mr Bill Browder, the proponent of the Magnitsky sanctions? Does she not agree that if this Russian gentleman were to become head of Interpol, it would be an absolute insult to the victims of the Salisbury incident?
Will the Minister explain how the Government intend to pursue their own pursuit of red notices in Russia with that gentleman in this post? Does she not accept that, if this gentleman were to succeed in his election, this would be a massive propaganda victory for the Putin regime, just ahead of a vote in the European Union on fresh sanctions? Would it, in effect, not amount to accepting that Interpol has become a branch of the Russian mafia? I use my words carefully when I say that. Finally, does this not underline the absolute folly of undermining in any way Europol at a time when Interpol is becoming totally dysfunctional and potentially corrupted?
The right hon. Gentleman raises a number of points. The central point is to clarify for the House the role of the secretary general of Interpol, who, of course, is the German Jürgen Stock. He has the executive role of day-to-day responsibility for the conduct of Interpol, and the UK confirms that it has a very good working relationship with him.
The right hon. Gentleman also raises the question about the candidacy of the current vice-president of the organisation. The UK, as I said in my opening remarks, will be supporting the candidacy of the acting vice-president, Kim Yong Yang. We always seek to endorse candidates who have a history of observing standards of international behaviour.
With regard to the point that the right hon. Gentleman makes about the potential for misuse of Interpol, red notices are a very important point. He will be aware of the systems that are in place to protect individuals’ rights and, indeed, of article 3 of the Interpol constitution, which forbids any organisation to undertake any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character. Of course, there need to be safeguards, and this Government take any misuse of Interpol notices very, very seriously.
Interestingly, the lobbying – both at National UK level and in Scotland – for a UK/Scotland candidate to ensnare, be ‘elected to’ or assume the Interpol 2025 Presidency - is highly reminiscent of recent attempts to place certain Scots figures in policing positions outside of Scotland – none of which appear to have succeeded given these individuals pasts.
The lobbying between administrations resorted to embittered strings of emails and Chat app platform communications, including claims several detailed reports in newspapers of officers pasts “had been withdrawn and therefore should be discounted in considering applications” and that “a segment in a television interview was misinformed and contained patently false information”.
The exchanges between advisers, media communications officers & administrations on lobbying attempts, currently cannot be published for legal reasons - however the attempts by some within government, at Scotland & UK level to engineer candidates for jobs without serious interviews, and deploy comms officers, even politicians to brief against the media in what became an increasingly bitter recruitment process and ultimately concluded in all parties engaging in infighting – are certainly of public interest in terms of who is appointed to which role in the UK, and why.
Historically, when it comes to any form of transparency and accountability for Police Scotland and policing organisation in Scotland – every effort appears to be expended to ensure secrecy on all fronts remains the case as this blog has previously reported: FOI PROBE: Holyrood Committee hear Scottish Information Commissioner backed off promise to bring Freedom of Information to Scottish Police Federation - even after Info. Tsar knew England & Wales Police Fed. already complied with FOI legislation
And finally – Three sourced tips in relation to stories being looked into.
An audio file submitted to a number of journalists reveals a recently retired policing figure and frequent user of sauna shops - boasted of holding information in relation to politicians and a financial scandal relating to cash and goods - to which the existence of this information was used to gain political lobbying and favours. A crime journalist confirmed the identity of persons in the audio.
An opportunity for that person or others with knowledge of this matter exists to contact journalists and answer questions on why this policing figure’s organisation felt it could play politics and gain favours - in relation to information clearly accumulated as a result of investigations – and why ageing, named former politicians were paid to lobby for, and attack journalists, critics - on behalf of this policing organisation.
Long running enquiries into court cases and complaints investigations revealed the use of Scotland based Private Investigator firms recruiting former Police Officers to utilise in-person surveillance on litigants, solicitors and journalists. Certain of these cases saw persons working for PI firms gaining entry to offices and litigants homes, images of which were recorded on camera equipment. Blog journalists are open to hear explanations from these firms and any employees in relation to their activities.
A long running investigation of digital surveillance employed by organisations in Scotland – which began with the Emma Caldwell case – turned up evidence of a highly organised cyber-hacking ring – which appears to have involvement of former Police Officers from a UK force other than Scotland, England & Wales which continues to snoop on newsrooms and identified journalists, and others including what appear to be opposition politicians.
Emails between lawyers & identified former officers revealed these ex cops regularly offer their services to law firms and any organisation which will hire then. To put it bluntly, these former officers boast of their technical proficiency in defending against cyber-attacks and taking the surveillance and cyber war back to those who whichever entity or organisation perceive as an enemy.
One of the lawyers boasting to clients of how they can deploy ex Police professionals to hack their way through opposing clients and legal representation’s files – sits on committees formed by Scotland’s current top judge – making the link between the judiciary and this surveillance enterprise as clear as was the case in the Emma Caldwell case. If anyone wants to talk, get in touch.
Lastly – Chose your method of giving tips to journalists carefully. Major social media platforms owned by a variety of anti-transparency vested interests - are a no-go area as your Direct Messages and similar are often read before the intended journalists gain sight of it – as a Digital Media employee from a political party recently confirmed in lengthy chats with example communications provided to journos.
86 comments:
Oh dear the SNP did not get their Mister Frontrunner Livingstone to be Met Commissioner!
https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/20113147.police-scotlands-iain-livingstone-among-met-chief-frontrunners/
Police Scotland's Iain Livingstone 'among Met chief frontrunners'
4th May 2022
SCOTLAND'S top police officer is among the leading candidates to become the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner, according to reports.
Iain Livingstone, 55, the chief constable of Police Scotland, is said to have impressed Home Secretary Priti Patel and Prime Minister Boris Johnson for overseeing the policing operation at COP26 which took place in Glasgow last November without any significant disruption by protesters, according to reports by The Times.
Earlier this week it emerged Home Office officials have been contacting chief constables to persuade them to apply amid fears that the acrimonious departure of Cressida Dick could deter candidates.
Ms Dick, the first female Met commissioner, was effectively ousted when Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, withdrew his confidence in her after a series of racism, sexism and misconduct scandals involving the force.
In a newspaper article last month Mr Livingstone urged his counterparts elsewhere in the UK to examine the insights of the ‘hard-earned lessons’ of reforming the policing service in Scotland.
Police Scotland formed in 2013 with the merger of eight regional forces and two specialist agencies and now employs 23,000 people across a one third of the UK’s geographical area.
Writing in the Guardian, Mr Livingstone cited a Scottish Government survey which found that 87 per cent of respondents trusted the police service. This compares with just 33% for the Metropolitan Police, according to a YouGov survey in October 2021.
The Met came under intense scrutiny in the wake of Sarah Everard’s murder by serving police officer Wayne Couzens, and the publication of a report into misogyny and discrimination at Charing Cross police station, which led to the resignation of Ms Dick as commissioner.
“There is a moral imperative and operational necessity for policing to lead change to improve the experiences of all our communities, including our own officers and staff,” said Mr Livingstone.
“Words and good intent are not enough. There must be action; practical, firm, progressive, visible action.”
He acknowledged that Police Scotland had faced its own issues, in the shape of the employment tribunal for Rhona Malone which found a “boys’ club” culture in the force’s firearms unit and a review of Police Scotland’s complaints process which called for fundamental overhaul.
However, he added that Police Scotland has strengthened operational competence, for example, in solving all but two of 520 murders committed since 2013.
He also highlighted that success of Police Scotland’s security operation for last November’s Cop26 summit, which resulted in no significant violence or disorder and few arrests.
LOL https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/20113147.police-scotlands-iain-livingstone-among-met-chief-frontrunners/
In February, the Strategic Review of Policing in England and Wales, chaired by Sir Michael Barber, made 56 recommendations urging radical reform to police culture, skills and training and organisational structure.
It included the idea that a new licence to practise for all police officers should be introduced, which would require renewal every five years, subject to strict conditions.
It also suggested the merger of back office functions across the 43 forces that would save hundreds of millions of pounds.
Mr Livingstone has been the Chief Constable of Police Scotland since August 2018.
He spent most of his career with the Lothian and Borders Police and became Deputy Chief Constable in charge of crime and operations when it was amalgamated into the single force under Stephen House - currently the acting Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
After being overlooked for the Chief Constable's job when Phil Gormley was appointed as the successor to Mr House in late 2015, Mr Livingstone initially remained part of the force executive but in summer 2017 announced his intention to retire.
Mr Gormley resigned in February 2018. Mr Livingstone succeeded Mr Gormley in August 2018.
Police Scotland and the London's Mayor's office for policing and crime have been approached for comment.
Christ Almighty Peter it is very good to see you back writing!
I suppose you are busy with many stories and cases but if possible please please try and keep this fine blog updated more often.
Take care and best wishes.
Yes you are spot on Peter
Livingstone did not get the National Crime Agency job even though newspapers were headlining him as a frontrunner.
Very creepy indeed.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jul/29/boris-johnson-ally-out-of-running-for-top-nca-job-amid-cronyism-row
Downing Street’s intervention has extended the time the NCA has been without a permanent leader. It was in September last year that Lynne Owens stood down as director general.
The readvertising of the NCA job led to new candidates applying, several of whom were sifted out without going before a panel. Among those still in the running and who will be interviewed is Iain Livingstone, the chief constable of Police Scotland, the UK’s second biggest force. For some he is now the frontrunner.
Are you sure INTERPOL is a Police organization or as they used to call the mafia THE "Organization"
Their President pleads guilty to bribery charges and wound up in jail
Before anyone starts attacking China justice system we all know if this guy was a British Tory and political donor he would instead be in your House of Lords and not in jail!
How can Scotland have a Chief of Police who was accused of many sexual assault crimes what is going on in your country!
https://www.npr.org/2020/01/21/798121397/former-interpol-president-sentenced-to-prison-in-china-for-corruption
Former Interpol President Sentenced To Prison In China For Corruption
The former president of Interpol has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison. Meng Hongwei, the first Chinese national to assume the presidency of the France-based international law enforcement organization, received his 13 1/2-year sentence for corruption Tuesday in a Chinese courtroom.
Meng pleaded guilty last year to using his position in China to finagle more than $2 million in bribes between 2005 and 2017. Prior to his 2016 election as Interpol president, he served more than a decade as China's vice minister of public security.
Meng's prison sentence caps a time in the international public eye that was about as dramatic and tortuous as it was brief.
Elected partly on the strength of his record of combating graft in China, Meng nevertheless elicited plenty of skepticism from critics who feared that his position would enable China to more readily use Interpol as a means of pursuing dissidents abroad. An Amnesty International official, for instance, found the results of the election "extraordinarily worrying."
At the time of his election, Meng declared, "I am a veteran policeman. And I stand ready to do everything I can toward the cause of policing in the world."
Still, Meng didn't last long into his four-year term atop the agency based in Lyon, France. Within two years, the Interpol chief went missing — disappearing in late September 2018 after departing France for a trip to his native China.
The cause of his disappearance soon became clear: Chinese authorities had detained him on corruption charges. Roughly a week after Meng was detained, Interpol announced that its briefly tenured president had resigned.
Kim Jong Yang of South Korea, the agency's senior vice president, stepped into Meng's role immediately and was formally elected by its General Assembly one month later.
The presidency of Interpol is a part-time, unpaid affair tasked with overseeing the General Assembly of the agency, which boasts the membership of 194 countries. The Interpol president works with the secretary general — currently Jürgen Stock, in his second appointed term — who is responsible for implementing the decisions of the General Assembly and guiding the organization's day-to-day affairs.
Grace Meng, wife of former Interpol President Meng Hongwei, did not want her face shown during a 2018 interview. She has said Interpol "breached its obligations owed to my family" and "is complicit in the internationally wrongful acts of its member country, China."
Before this is SNP disappeared like everything else
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12502743.High_flier_is_reduced_to_the_ranks_Policeman_will_fight_action_taken_after_drunken_party/
26th June 2004
High-flier is reduced to the ranks
Policeman will fight action taken after drunken party
ONE of Scotland's youngest and most promising senior police officers has been demoted from superintendent to constable following a disciplinary hearing over allegations involving a woman police officer.
Iain Livingstone, 37, was working as an aide to Scotland's most senior police officer, Sir Roy Cameron, at Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, when he was suspended in February 2003 over the claims, which arose from a drunken party at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan.
It is understood that he plans to contest the demotion, which meant him dropping four ranks.
The former lawyer and Raith Rovers footballer had been suspended for 17 months after the WPC claimed she had been sexually assaulted during the party.
Five allegations of serious sexual assault were dismissed but, at an internal misconduct hearing, Mr Livingstone admitted less serious allegations, including being in the woman's room overnight after falling asleep.
The hearing, chaired by John McLean, Strathclyde assistant chief constable, established there had been no sexual impropriety or intent on Mr Livingstone's part.
A qualified lawyer and member of the Law society of Scotland, Mr Livingstone switched careers in 1992, joining Lothian and Borders Police.
In just 10 years, he reached the rank of superintendent and it was thought that he would reach the highest echelons of service.
Mr Livingstone was unavailable for comment yesterday. His wife, Jane, said: "We will be taking thorough legal advice and challenging this at every level."
"As everyone knows, Iain has done nothing wrong and he is devastated at the way this has been handled. He is a man of the highest integrity with an impeccable record and we will be appealing against this decision."
A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "Internal conduct proceedings against an officer has taken place. We will not comment further on internal staff matters."
Tom Buchan, a chief Superintendent with Strathclyde Police and national spokesman for the Association of Police Superintendents, said: "'We can't say very much just now."
"There may well be some form of appeal and this may not be the final outcome."
He said the association had not been involved in the case so far, but that that could change should an appeal process be started.
One officer spoke out on behalf of his colleague. He said: ''Iain has been stripped of his rank and busted to the lowest rank form simply falling asleep at a party.
"The punishment does not fit the crime and it beggars belief that they can treat an officer, who has an unblemished record and was destined for big things, like this."
Reading of Direct Messages on a social media platform has gone on for some time.
There are no cases where messages will appear read before a user interacts with the Direct Message as this is a function built in to administration software.
I know as I formerly worked at a social media platform you may be referring to and witnessed colleagues regularly going through listed users of standing Direct Message conversations and harvesting information for company or other use.
Livingstone used The Guardian to say all Police forces could learn from him courtesy of the Guardian printing obvious disinformation to the point of dishonesty in the light of the Chief Constables statements Police Scotland is Institutionally Racist and Sexist
Was he hoping to teach the Met and the NCA how to go about being as Institutionally Discriminatory Racist and Sexist as the SNP's private Police force Police Scotland?
How is Interpol set for being Institutionally Discriminatory Racist and Sexist?
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/21/policing-scotland-radically-reformed-all-uk-forces-learn
Policing in Scotland has been radically reformed – all UK forces can learn from us
Our police services across the UK are under intense scrutiny. The onus is on us to nurture trust and legitimacy by demonstrating no tolerance for misogyny, racism and discrimination within policing and across society. Equally, ensuring an effective and professional policing response for victims and communities is a prerequisite for public confidence.
Two recent reports from Sir Michael Barber and Sir Tom Winsor both called for structural, cultural and operational reform of policing in England and Wales, as referred to in last week’s Guardian editorial.
But when discussing policing reform in Britain, it is important to consider the experiences of Police Scotland. Nine years ago, 10 policing organisations in Scotland merged into a single national police service of about 23,000 people, the second largest in the UK, serving a third of Britain’s land mass and communities in villages, towns, islands and cities.
Establishing a reformed service has been enormously challenging and we did not get everything right. However, much progress has been made. Under our structure, we have strengthened operational competence and provided direct access to all policing capabilities for every citizen.
More than 520 murders and homicides have been committed in Scotland since 2013. Only two are currently unsolved. Our safety and security operation for last November’s Cop26 resulted in no significant violence, disorder or injury and relatively few arrests. The climate change summit, along with our approach to policing during the pandemic, demonstrated our core duty and responsibility to enable the public to make their voices heard – and independent reviewing has largely concluded Police Scotland did so in line with our commitment to put human rights at the heart of all we do.
/2
No shame at the Guardian!
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/21/policing-scotland-radically-reformed-all-uk-forces-learn
Policing in Scotland has been radically reformed – all UK forces can learn from us
Iain Livingstone
Last month, I announced Police Scotland will become the first service in the world to train and equip all operational officers with Naloxone, a life-saving overdose first aid nasal-spray, on a national basis, reflecting our broad mission to improve the safety and wellbeing of communities as enshrined in the law establishing Police Scotland.
Tests remain: operational failings, or when we don’t live up to our values, are rightly subject to critical review and require persistent leadership, focus and action. We must face up to the cultural challenges of UK policing as a whole, of other sectors and organisations, and of wider society. That’s been underlined by reports including Dame Elish Angiolini’s review of police complaints and individual cases such as Rhona Malone’s employment tribunal, describing unacceptable behaviours.
There is a moral imperative and operational necessity for policing to lead change to improve the experiences of all our communities, including our own officers and staff. Words and good intent are not enough. There must be action; practical, firm, progressive, visible action.
Structural simplicity and stability can help drive progress: our response to serious offending has been transformed under reform but we continue to listen so we can do better, our resolve to tackle violence against women and girls being a clear example. Last year, I was grateful to meet survivors to hear directly about their experiences of the criminal justice system. The voices and perspectives of survivors and groups such as Rape Crisis Scotland are vital and help us to improve our response to rape and sexual offending.
Every year since reform we have returned more than £200m to the public purse while providing better, more efficient policing. This remains an achievement and a challenge – especially given that serving increasingly complex community needs requires significant investment.
Digitally enabled offending such as online child sexual abuse and fraud continue to grow at a very high rate, underlining that online policing is frontline policing. We must build the workforce and tools to keep people safe in public, private and virtual spaces.
It is wrong to view community policing and specialist capability as competing imperatives – they complement each other and both are essential to build public confidence. Confidence to come forward. Confidence you will be treated fairly, with compassion and respect. Confidence our response will be professional and thorough.
Reform has enabled clearer communication, leadership and accountability – key when driving change. Last October, our That Guy public awareness campaign asked men to challenge their own and each other’s behaviours and attitudes towards women. This was an important message for Scottish society, including for us in policing – as individuals and as a service. A verification scheme, established to reassure women approached by lone officers, also reflected the onus on policing to accept responsibility for addressing public concerns.
Policing in Scotland is realistic about the challenges ahead but confident in the progress made and optimistic we can build on it. I am encouraged by the consistently strong levels of public confidence reported in our own research, and by the recent Scottish government household survey which found 87% of respondents trusted the police.
The key assessment I apply is whether our communities and people are safer and better served now than they would have been had reform not taken place - not only for the threats of today but those of tomorrow. The answer is yes. As we continue our own development, our offer is to share the insight and value that Scotland’s hard-earned lessons can provide to improve policing for communities across the UK.
Iain Livingstone is chief constable of Police Scotland
I smell a lot of corruption in Scottish policing and their policing masters!
The SNP Police force cannot be Institutionally Discriminatory Racist and Sexist without being Institutionally Corrupt!
I like your phrase Scottish National Police!
SNP equals Scottish National Police!
Nationalist Police State Scotland!
May I use it?
Thanks in advance to Mr Made My Day Real Journalist PC!
LOL The Guardian fell for that or are they a player too?
Astoundingly Gross!
Another thoroughly researched and comprehensive article, as was your report on the notorious Stuart Gair case which demonstrated that the so called Scottish 'justice' system has not changed since the disgraceful 'trial' and conviction of Oscar Slater;
https://petercherbi.blogspot.com/search?q=stuart+gair
Authorities here lift their noses in the air and routinely mention corruption at all levels in other countries. Here it starts at the top, and it is no surprise to see others such as Clyde & Co - formerly Simpson and Marwick - picking up the pieces and profiting from it.
There is no area of services in Scotland uncontaminated by the SNP
If you work for any public org and do not support the SNP your career is limited and ends prematurely after a colleague constructs false grievances to remove you from your job.
I saw this happen to many friends and colleagues then to myself.
All of us who talk about what happened are fully aware of the hatred level from the Scottish Government against anyone who does not play by their rules or takes orders to alter whatever they are doing on the spot to fit in with openly hostile and aggressive government.
I saw your material on Non Disclosure Agreements some time ago on your Twitter.
The numbers of NDAs released to Freedom of Information requests are much higher than those admitted including the legal costs.
I know for a fact NDAs were regularly used to conceal criminal acts and criminality within the most high profile public services.
I support your campaign for transparency Mr Cherbi.
Do you know Twitter keeps imposing search bans on your username@
I highly recommend anyone who wants to find real detail on a news story to come here instead because Twitter is now useless for any real debate or finding out the facts.
Hoping you are able to keep the blog updated more regularly!
Best xx
With the fall of Sturgeon we are now hearing more truth and can see who was using who to retain power.The SNP are the nastiest party of all.Nasty in name nasty in nature.Those of you who haven't realised the entire social media debate in Scotland is rigged by fake profiles and named accounts run by the SNP cybernats and Tory trolls need your heads examined!
Well your blog certainly provoked hastily arranged interviews with Iain Livingstone claiming Sturgeon was not tipped off about her husband's arrest.
You write this excellent report on Tuesday and then on Wednesday, Thursday STV and the papers are running Livingstone as a good guy claiming all is honest and above board and Sturgeon was never told about any SNP finances investigation!
https://news.stv.tv/scotland/outrageous-to-suggest-nicola-sturgeon-was-given-peter-murrell-arrest-tip-off-says-police-scotland-chief
Police Scotland‘s outgoing chief constable says it’s “absolutely outrageous” to suggest former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was tipped off about the arrest of her husband.
Sir Iain Livingstone said nobody at his force informed the Scottish Government that Peter Murrell, the SNP’s former chief executive, was about to be taken into custody in the probe into the party’s finances.
“I do not know the reason that the former first minister resigned but I do know it was certainly nothing to do with any tip-off coming from my office or me personally.”
Sturgeon, Murrell and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie have all been arrested and subsequently released without charge as part of Police Scotland’s Operation Branchform, which is investigating what happened to around £600,000 raised by the party for independence campaigning.
Murrell was questioned by detectives for 11 hours on April 5 before being released “pending further investigation”.
STV News and newspapers pulled onto the SNP investigation diversion with friendly interviews on a Chief Constable with a history like he has.What does this tell you about the media!
And look what Livingstone says at the end of the friendly STV interview
Concluding the interview, Livingstone said he now plans to take a rest for at least a number of months.
“I’m going to retire from the police service but I’m not going to retire from life,” he said.
I take it these creepy references have connection with those jobs he failed to obtain even after many of the same papers ran stories he was a "front runner" for the Crime Agency and the Met Police and your article raising the Interpol connection must have caused problems because other countries have a say and vote in who becomes the Interpol boss.
What a horrible thought!
omg has anyone watched the STV interview with Livingstone?
Not one word is believable!
Increasingly evident to everyone who the real gangsters are running Scotland and I am not referring to the gangsters in the yearly crime gangs lecture
Good to see people speaking out.
How widespread across Scotland are the NDAs do you know Peter?
Anonymous said...
There is no area of services in Scotland uncontaminated by the SNP
If you work for any public org and do not support the SNP your career is limited and ends prematurely after a colleague constructs false grievances to remove you from your job.
I saw this happen to many friends and colleagues then to myself.
All of us who talk about what happened are fully aware of the hatred level from the Scottish Government against anyone who does not play by their rules or takes orders to alter whatever they are doing on the spot to fit in with openly hostile and aggressive government.
I saw your material on Non Disclosure Agreements some time ago on your Twitter.
The numbers of NDAs released to Freedom of Information requests are much higher than those admitted including the legal costs.
I know for a fact NDAs were regularly used to conceal criminal acts and criminality within the most high profile public services.
I support your campaign for transparency Mr Cherbi.
29 June 2023 at 17:20
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12502743.High_flier_is_reduced_to_the_ranks_Policeman_will_fight_action_taken_after_drunken_party/
The former lawyer and Raith Rovers footballer had been suspended for 17 months after the WPC claimed she had been sexually assaulted during the party.
Five allegations of serious sexual assault were dismissed but, at an internal misconduct hearing, Mr Livingstone admitted less serious allegations, including being in the woman's room overnight after falling asleep.
============================================
hmm is this what qualifies someone to be the Met commissioner or head of the nca
How about boss of Interpol?
Did anyone watch the BBC Scotland interview where they catch out Livingstone on what really happened?
I don't believe a word he says to Samantha Poling and if you watch it neither does she!
To answer these comments the Scottish National Party are not left wing they are right wing almost extreme and were more often known by the Tartan Tories.
Therefore no one should be in the least surprised the SNP in Edinburgh and the Conservatives at Westminster are working the newspapers television and social media coverage to keep both in power and stop Labour.
Not that I am Labour in any way because when they started out as the Scottish Executive with Liberal Democrats everything was just as much a lie then as it is now.The SNP were propped up by Tories from 2007 onwards and every single msp in that so-called Parliament put their msp co-workers and party interests before any constituent with a problem or voters.
The SNP have nowhere to go Scotland is a complete shambles and the most corrupt part of the United Kingdom.Sixteen years of SNP rule saw to that and they have no one else to blame because the Tories in London gave them the money to be as corrupt as they wanted and this is exactly what the Scottish Government did.
Police Scotland hold vast amounts of information on social media users.
Their excuse is comparable to what happened in the Emma Caldwell spying probe you recently mentioned but the fact is they are essentially the spying arm of the Scottish Government and this information flows freely between anyone who wants it.
Obtained Warrant Free and for a fee.Ask your sources who will confirm.
Public cash and the right contact in an internet company bankrolls state snooping in Scotland.
They probably learned to pay as you spy from Westmonster.
Similarities in those who leave the legal profession for unexplained reasons?
Both have since resigned their jobs within days of each other's resignation.
Nicola Sturgeon left her career as a solicitor to pursue a career in politics with the SNP
https://petercherbi.blogspot.com/2021/03/first-interests-judge-recommended-for_8.html
AN INVESTIGATION has established Scotland’s First Minister – Nicola Sturgeon – was found to have committed THREE counts of professional misconduct by a solicitor she later recommended for the position of a Sheriff within Scotland’s powerful judiciary - currently led by Lord President - Lord Carloway.
and
Iain Livingstone left his career as a solicitor to pursue a career in Lothian and Borders Police and PoliceScotland?
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12502743.High_flier_is_reduced_to_the_ranks_Policeman_will_fight_action_taken_after_drunken_party/
A qualified lawyer and member of the Law society of Scotland, Mr Livingstone switched careers in 1992, joining Lothian and Borders Police.
Five allegations of serious sexual assault were dismissed but, at an internal misconduct hearing, Mr Livingstone admitted less serious allegations, including being in the woman's room overnight after falling asleep.
Iain Livingstone, 37, was working as an aide to Scotland's most senior police officer, Sir Roy Cameron, at Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, when he was suspended in February 2003 over the claims, which arose from a drunken party at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan.
Bloody hell!
and then Sturgeon was fine with him as Chief Constable because if she wasn't okay with it he would never have got the job
Livingston then investigates Sturgeon, Sturgeon's husband and her political party the SNP for years. Sturgeon and hubby get arrested then released on no charge and Sturgeon announces her resignation before she gets arrested and Livingstone resigns after Sturgeon resigns!
Anonymous said
Similarities in those who leave the legal profession for unexplained reasons?
Both have since resigned their jobs within days of each other's resignation.
Nicola Sturgeon left her career as a solicitor to pursue a career in politics with the SNP
https://petercherbi.blogspot.com/2021/03/first-interests-judge-recommended-for_8.html
AN INVESTIGATION has established Scotland’s First Minister – Nicola Sturgeon – was found to have committed THREE counts of professional misconduct by a solicitor she later recommended for the position of a Sheriff within Scotland’s powerful judiciary - currently led by Lord President - Lord Carloway.
and
Iain Livingstone left his career as a solicitor to pursue a career in Lothian and Borders Police and PoliceScotland?
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12502743.High_flier_is_reduced_to_the_ranks_Policeman_will_fight_action_taken_after_drunken_party/
A qualified lawyer and member of the Law society of Scotland, Mr Livingstone switched careers in 1992, joining Lothian and Borders Police.
Five allegations of serious sexual assault were dismissed but, at an internal misconduct hearing, Mr Livingstone admitted less serious allegations, including being in the woman's room overnight after falling asleep.
Iain Livingstone, 37, was working as an aide to Scotland's most senior police officer, Sir Roy Cameron, at Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, when he was suspended in February 2003 over the claims, which arose from a drunken party at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan.
30 June 2023 at 18:09
During a liquid lunch a journo friend of yours passed round his mobi showing a string of messages to a senior newspaper editorial figure from cops telling him his relative would be charged with intent to supply Class A drugs if he did not ensure published investigations on rape allegations against a senior Scottish Police officer were withdrawn and deleted by the newspaper.
Your friend described the messaging thread as blackmail by cops against newspapers and this is exactly how the messages and threats read.
The newspaper reports were subsequently withdrawn and no longer appear in their back catalogue.
Down the list of messages the editorial figure contacts you and demands then orders you to delete your entire blog.After several exchanges you tell him to get lost and you appear to have blocked him since this exchange.
How did this contact come about?
Eager to read more given current events in Scottish politics and Police.
Comment at 18.09 I cant believe I missed the link between the two former solicitors Livingstone and Sturgeon.
Peter Cherbi's investigation on Sturgeon and Pasportnikov is probably the best ever take on Sturgeon and Cherbi published it first.Bravo Peter!
What someone wrote about how you get sacked from the public sector if you are not in love with the SNP or swear an allegiance is spot on everyone at work grasses on each other and everyone records their colleagues otherwise you are going to be targeted and kicked out then your nasty crooked line manager will make sure you never get another decent job
Did you hear about the cybernats all falling out because they did not receive payments for fake accounts likes and tweets?
All public cash allegedly how was the money being funneled to their supporters?
A ferry or two perhaps?
Good find on the crooked Interpol bosses
and the last thing we need is any crooked Scottish cops with dirty pasts anywhere near Interpol or anywhere else in public life
Sir Vince Cable
Can the Minister confirm that the British Government are doing all they can to campaign against the candidacy of Mr Prokopchuk? Will she confirm that, until recently, he was head of the central bureau in Russia and was directly responsible for the issuing of red notices, which have been abused and used against opponents of the Putin regime—such as Mr Bill Browder, the proponent of the Magnitsky sanctions? Does she not agree that if this Russian gentleman were to become head of Interpol, it would be an absolute insult to the victims of the Salisbury incident?
Will the Minister explain how the Government intend to pursue their own pursuit of red notices in Russia with that gentleman in this post? Does she not accept that, if this gentleman were to succeed in his election, this would be a massive propaganda victory for the Putin regime, just ahead of a vote in the European Union on fresh sanctions? Would it, in effect, not amount to accepting that Interpol has become a branch of the Russian mafia? I use my words carefully when I say that. Finally, does this not underline the absolute folly of undermining in any way Europol at a time when Interpol is becoming totally dysfunctional and potentially corrupted?
Following of interest?
A deal cooked up by the Crown Office to early release one of Scotland's most notorious and prolific drug dealers if he participates in gaining prison confessions from inmates relating to the location of two bodies in two notorious murders.
Deal is early release in exchange for location of bodies so the Crown Office can obtain another pro-prosecutor blazing headline across Scottish media.
The kicker is the jailed drug dealer actively supplies through his underlines quantities of drugs to certain leading lawyers and their friends, work colleagues cops and court staff and has a connection to former Crown Office employees arrested on drugs offences you previously wrote about and named, one who was a gangland informant on Crown Office investigations and the other who was arrested at his work for dealing drugs with his Crown Office colleagues.
Do your good work PC.
suggestion - alternative methods of contact preferably non UK and add it to your blog contact
now Twitter is finished please please please I implore you keep this fine blog more regularly updated!!
@ 27 June 2023 at 21:21
Thanks!
Quite busy, many cases ... much to do and write.
@ 27 June 2023 at 21:47
The effort, persuasion & outright dishonesty to get the views out & coordinate media was very interesting to stand back and watch ... perhaps worthy of public interest publication at a later date.
@ 27 June 2023 at 22:31
Yes, good points! In the UK, corruption is usually rewarded with a peerage for the government benches and much more.
@ 28 June 2023 at 16:12
Interesting, and suspected as much ... would be interested in hearing more, email the blog thanks.
@ 28 June 2023 at 19:03
When Scotgov were trying to decide what to call Police Scotland, an office whiteboard listed several options including "Scottish National Police" with several 'comments' around the phrase.
@ 29 June 2023 at 09:17
Scotland's justice system - Judiciary, Police & Govt are world leading in dishonesty, fit up and cover up. Nothing else.
@ 29 June 2023 at 17:20
Thanks. Your comment is interesting, care to expand on these matters you raise? Please contact the blog, thanks.
@ 30 June 2023 at 16:43
Interesting points and yes ... Westminster has funded the Scottish Government's career of catastrophe.
The damage to trust, public services and public life in Scotland is deliberate and intentional ... and will take years to repair, if ever.
@ 30 June 2023 at 11:11
Actually a Scotgov source warned media journos Police Scotland was planning a further round of PR with the Chief Constable#s interview among the list, hence the write up. More to come ...
@ 30 June 2023 at 16:00
Widespread doesn't even come close ... almost every public org and regulator in Scotland including the Scottish Information Commissioner uses Non Disclosure Agreements - and solicitors & advocates have been imposing NDAs on clients and client complaints via the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission.
Fortunately the legal profession keep a very complete, updated and thorough list, and ....
@ 30 June 2023 at 17:16
The greater part of this particular data collecting scandal lies in how the data is obtained - mostly in secret MOUs with media orgs and others to avoid warrants and oversight of the information gathering - and misuse - of the gathered information.
@ 30 June 2023 at 18:09
Well spotted and good points.
When the issue of Police Scotland was a "Lawyer-led" Police Force was raised on Twitter, it provoked a storm of protest from one single user with it appears, a very interesting background and connection to issues ...
@ 30 June 2023 at 22:06
No idea .. however details within your comment corroborate an instance of comms between a blog journo and individual in relation to an article where no material was required to be deleted and it was revealed a Police Scotland media asset was deployed to lobby media against further publication in relation to matters relating to the Chief Constable which are clearly in the public interest and which have already been commented on by former senior Police officers.
@ 1 July 2023 at 13:45
Yes thanks, am aware of this information from journo colleagues, appears to be real and follows a pattern of dirty deals at the Crown Office to gain positive PR & Spin headlines while highly dangerous criminals are released on the quiet or people lose their lives in the name of a gong and headlines for top prosecutors ... such as the McBride-client-tax case instance.
@ 1 July 2023 at 17:04
Thanks ... yes new article in a few days.
Noting several unpublished comments, please refer these matters to the blog via email and in the MC case via method described. Thanks.
Any client of a lawyer or someone looking for a lawyer who ends up on twitter seeking advice is not worth helping.Twitter is a minefield with no gaps.All you get is politicians banks lawyers and business telling us how great they are when they are really ripping us off.Sturgeon spent her time telling everyone which books she was reading before she resigned and was then arrested and there is not one shred of truth in what any public agency says on their Twitter feeds.Anyone daft enough to be taken in with such disinformation has already lost it.
The drug dealer release for body location swap sounds like the kind of deal an ex Lord Advocate cooked up with McBride & to bring back the tax cheat for a glorious set of headlines.
You all know what happened next.
To ask you Peter do you accept author articles for publication?
As your blog is free I presume no rates,correct?
What are your criteria for accepting author articles?
@ 2 July 2023 at 19:18
Yes, quite so.
Possibly more to publish on the COPFS-Carousel Tax case failure, including details obtained of the Dubai meeting and surveillance which led to the failed negotiations and the QC's subsequent death.
@ 3 July 2023 at 11:09
Articles by identified and verified authors may be submitted for publication within the range of issues reported on this blog.
No rates for articles - this is a public interest blog.
Of note - any articles submitted for publication will require to go through a vetting process and will be inspected by journalists to ensure any material is authentic and can be corroborated.
Any provided material is required to be in a publishable format to accompany any submitted article.
Decision to publish any article and material rests with blog editors.
Nicola Sturgeon and Iain Livingstone
Two ex solicitors who leave the legal profession
Sturgeon goes on to become Scotland's First Minister whose staff led a war against Sturgeon's predecessor Alex Salmond to get Livingstone's Police Scotland to charge Alex Salmond with multiple charges of rape and sexual assault.
Salmond is cleared.Sturgeon remains First Minister until resigning on 15 February 2023
Livingstone has a career in policing and then is accused of as The Herald reports five allegations of serious sexual assault against a woman police officer
is then cleared by male police officers of everything except falling asleep in the same woman officer's room
Iain Livingstone is later appointed Chief Constable in 2018 in a process everyone knows Sturgeon has to agree to otherwise he wont get the job - after Phil Gormley is forced out after replaces Stephen House who also fell out of favour with the SNP
Livingstone resigns as Chief Constable a few days after Sturgeon resigns as First Minister
Sturgeon is replaced in a rigged party election by her typewriter
Livingstone will be replaced by the latest Chief Constable from a Police force which found Police Scotland operated an illegal spying network.
THIS IS THE MOST CORRUPT TIME FOR SCOTLAND EVER
I read through your references and the Twitter argument on the lawyer-led PoliceScotland.
Clearly that person who claims to be a Woman if you can believe anyone is who they claim to be on Twitter has some kind of vested interest in and abnormal concern against people calling PoliceScotland lawyer-led.
I worked for an NHS Board.My employers obtained all my Twitter DMs.I am considering taking my former employers to court after I refused to sign a Non Disclosure Agreement and severance pay.
@ 4 July 2023 at 16:34
Very interesting given issues in relation to Non Disclosure Agreements and several NHS cases under consideration .. can you contact blog journalists via email.
In response to a number of unpublished comments, views are noted and issues raised will be looked into.
Any documents in relation to cases and issues can be emailed to blog journalists via scottishlawreporters@gmail.com in full confidence.
A reminder to readers who leave comments - with regard to certain details and content, it may be better to contact blog journalists via email and provide material which can then be considered for publication or passed to journos of choice to ensure your story, issue or predicament is more widely aired in the media.
Missing your blog on Twitter!
I thought those Non Disclosure FOIs were yours!
Well done for kicking off scrutiny one one of the biggest scandals in Scotland!
Good points on Twitter demise
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/05/twitter-elon-musk-verge-of-collapse
Twitter was locked in a chaotic doom loop. Now it’s on the verge of collapse
Siva Vaidhyanathan
Since the ‘genius’ bought Twitter last year, he’s made a series of poor decisions – and now the platform is almost unusable
If you use Twitter, the service that not so long ago was the best way to take in breaking news and find audiences for serious conversations, you may have found it substantially less useful in the past year. Over this past weekend you found it almost unusable. On Saturday, everything melted down. Thousands of users reported that they had major issues using the platform, including an inability to access any tweets or to post their own tweets – so, basically, everything for which one might want to use Twitter.
@ 5 July 2023 at 11:37
The lesson for all is to expand debate and not be overly reliant on any one website or social media company for posting and interacting with other users.
@ 5 July 2023 at 14:24
Thanks ... although required scrutiny & publication of all cases in relation to NDAs, and victims being allowed to speak up as they have done in the US Senate hearings are still far away from any action in Scotland & UK.
However the NDA issue and subjects relating to NDAs are not as clear cut as the FOI disclosures suggest.
For example, a blog journalist has spoken to a former Police Officer who was wrongly accused of misogyny related acts - which were then withdrawn after his accuser admitted making up their story.
Even though the former officer was cleared at the time, his senior officers effectively used the false accusations to demand, perhaps even force the former officer to go along with more senior colleagues views of cases and other matters - which were not consistent with the truth or upholding the law.
Journos noted material in which the former officer was clearly subject to intimidation and coercion from senior colleagues - which ultimately contributed to an attempted suicide, no support from his 'policing association', no legal representation to the point lawyers were put off representing him and his forced resignation from the Police force where he served.
Noting this is an England based case, the former officer has since been linked up with an English law firm who understand the issues and will hopefully act accordingly.
Blog journalists would be interested to hear from any other Police Officer who was put in such a position, confidential guaranteed.
A Good news court ruling for your journalists who were targeted in those Whats app messages where lawyers discussed planting bombs underneath journalists cars and entering homes now the messages will have to be disclosed!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66123656
Government loses court battle over Boris Johnson's Covid WhatsApps
The government has lost its legal challenge to prevent the Covid inquiry from seeing Boris Johnson's WhatsApps, diaries and notebooks in full.
The Cabinet Office had argued it should not have to hand over irrelevant material, but inquiry chair Baroness Hallett said it should be up to her to decide what is relevant.
The government has accepted the ruling.
It would work towards handing over the material requested by next week, Downing Street said.
"All elements of this will be discussed in more detail with the inquiry", No 10 added, describing the judgement as the "sensible" and the "appropriate way forward".
The Covid inquiry said it was "pleased" with the court verdict and added that inquiry chair Baroness Hallett expected to received the material by 16:00 BST on Monday 10 July.
The decision by the court is likely to strengthen the authority of the inquiry and its ability to demand evidence.
In its ruling, the court said inquiries should be allowed to "fish" for documents.
It said such exercises could potentially lead to the inquiry getting "some irrelevant material".
I have seen some of the material from an unnamed chat platform you refer to in the last para of the post.
Looks genuine how do you think this was obtained?
Anything going on with you?
My boss was at a multi agency meeting yesterday and you are the subject
TTL mentioned and lots more
More than 20 victims of discrimination and wrongdoing who received financial compensation from Police Scotland were gagged from speaking publicly and the FOI material reveals Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) were used in at least 21 cases in which pay-outs totaling £677,389 were made to police officers, civilian staff and members of the public.
The Non Disclosure Agreement story is very very interesting Peter.As you say there should be a full investigation of NDA use in public life and all published including who the NDA protects from us knowing what they really do and should not be anywhere near public bodies
Very good report Peter I like your writing and attention to detail keep up the good work!
Any idea who the BBC presenter is?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-66150845
Family 'upset' with BBC response to presenter photo claims
The family of a teenager allegedly paid by a BBC star for sexually explicit photos is said by the Sun to be upset by the corporation's latest response.
The BBC said it first became aware of a complaint in May and then of "new allegations" on Thursday.
But the family alleged "no one from the BBC rang them for a proper interview after the initial complaint".
The unnamed presenter has been suspended.
The BBC said it was working as quickly as possible to establish the facts. The corporation is also meeting the Metropolitan Police later to discuss the matter.
The BBC are hot on featuring stories about other countries judges and scandals but never report on all the Scottish and British judges corruption and how mostly male judges in the UK disregard and are openly hostile against sexual crime trials
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66174352
Italian uproar over judge's 10-second groping rule
By Sofia Bettiza BBC News, Rome
Does it count as sexual harassment if an assault lasts less than 10 seconds?
Many young people in Italy are expressing outrage on social media, after a judge cleared a school caretaker of groping a teenager, because it did not last long enough.
The case involves a 17-year-old student at a Rome high school.
She described walking up a staircase to class with a friend, when she felt her trousers fall down, a hand touching her buttocks and grabbing her underwear.
"Love, you know I was joking," the man told her when she turned around.
After the incident, which happened in April 2022, the student reported the caretaker, 66-year-old Antonio Avola, to police.
He admitted to groping the student without consent, but said it was a joke.
A Rome public prosecutor asked for a three-and-a-half year prison sentence but this week the caretaker was acquitted of sexual assault charges. According to the judges, what happened "does not constitute a crime" because it lasted less than 10 seconds.
Since the ruling, palpata breve - a brief groping - has become a trend on Instagram and TikTok in Italy, along with the #10secondi hashtag.
Italians have posted videos looking at the camera in silence and touching their intimate parts for 10 seconds straight.
Camilla posted this video referring to the caretaker's acquittal and the quote: "Groping lasted just 10 seconds"
The videos are often uncomfortable to watch but they have the aim of showing just how long 10 seconds can feel.
The first was posted by White Lotus actor Paolo Camilli, and since then thousands of people have followed suit.
Another video was reposted by Chiara Ferragni, Italy's most famous influencer who has 29.4 million followers on Instagram.
Another influencer, Francesco Cicconetti wrote on TikTok: "Who decides that 10 seconds is not a long time? Who times the seconds, while you're being harassed?"
"Men don't have the right to touch women's bodies, not even for a second - let alone 5 or 10."
He goes on to say that the judges' decision to acquit the caretaker shows just how normalised sexual harassment is in Italian society.
A post on the Freeda Instagram account says: "This sentence is absurd. The duration of the harassment should not diminish its severity."
But according to the judges, the caretaker did not linger. He groped the teenager only briefly, performing an "awkward manoeuvre without lust".
"The judges ruled that he was joking? Well, it was no joke to me," the student told Corriere della Sera newspaper.
"The caretaker came up from behind without saying anything. He put his hands down my trousers and inside my underwear.
"He groped my bottom. Then, he pulled me up - hurting my private parts. For me, this is not a joke. This is not how an old man should 'joke' with a teenager."
"That handful of seconds was more than enough for the caretaker to make me feel his hands on me."
She says she feels doubly betrayed - by her school and by the justice system.
"I'm starting to think I was wrong to trust the institutions. This is not justice."
The student fears the judges' ruling will deter girls and women from coming forward if they are subjected to such attacks.
Recent figures from the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) suggested that 70% of Italian woman who had suffered harassment between 2016 and 2021 did not report the incident.
"They will feel that reporting abuse is just not worth it. But it is important, because silence protects the aggressors."
Interpol now reads like the mafia with all their crooked bosses in jail or money laundering!
What kind of crooked politicians promote creepy cops to heads of Police Forces?
They probably place their friends on institutions such as Interpol so to allow crooked politicians to get away with whatever they are doing and use the Police to distract from their own crimes
We know this is real because of all the news on how rotten and corrupt Police in the UK really is and I fancy we have you to thank for this in part because of the Non Disclosure Agreement exposures and all the creepy top cops with their shocking activities where they get away with it but anyone else lands in jail
Well spotted Peter
Interpol originally selected a location for their 2024 Assembly then No10 stepped in and began lobbying for Glasgow on the back of discussions with Sturgeon's Ministers.I heard Interpol asked for a London venue and was turned down as unavailable.No10 and Conservatives engaged in lobbying to place a UK/Scotland candidate for 2025 Interpol Presidency.Leaked out because No10 asked Middle East partners to support their selection.Scottish Gov talking up their police characters for the job.Your coverage of the Chief Constable's past and video footage of an interview and what I assume is bts material often appears in communications 👍
@ 6 July 2023 at 18:10
A complete copy of the WhatsApp messages referred to were handed over to blog journalists some time ago.
The material and identities of those in the legal profession who discussed issues and made certain threats to journalists - has proved useful in gathering additional information. Matters will be acted upon in terms of reporting and publication as required.
@ 7 July 2023 at 16:23
Clearly the material is being obtained without warrant, and appears to either have been handed over via a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding agreement) or another type of secret deal - where a simple request by a public authority or agent employed by or acting on behalf of - to whichever platform or service provider - sees material including personal communications, location data and login credentials - handed over to the requester - and in certain instances these transactions are subject to significant payments.
Perhaps of more concern are comms obtained by journos which show discussions between Digital Media staff of certain orgs and political entities seeking to plant false location data and false information and files within Direct Message conversations between participants - after material had been obtained which did not illicit the desired intentions of what are effectively state actors who requested and obtained it.
@ 8 July 2023 at 10:01
Thanks, as per the date of your comment this meeting was most likely in relation to a credible Threat to Life by a low level narcotics dealer who is attempting to ingratiate himself to a much larger gang. The threats took the form of the dealer's desire to use two members of his family - one of whom was involved in an NHS scandal since debunked - to intimidate and threaten the life of a blog journalist.
As this matter involves several senior politicians including a former Deputy First Minister and several law firms, including a judge - these issues will be dealt with by outside agencies, monitored by journalist colleagues.
@ 9 July 2023 at 21:12
Thanks, new articles on the way soon.
@ 10 July 2023 at 11:52
The presenter was eventually identified, and this was reported in the wider media.
The public should really be asking to see all the Non Disclosure Agreements and similar secrecy deals at 'the nation's broadcaster' ... and take a wider look at the vested interests of that particular broadcaster - which itself is known to go after, brief against, and aggressively boycott other journalists and public interest news deemed not in the broadcaster's interests to report ...
@ 12 July 2023 at 18:11
Yes, quite so ... if that were a UK or Scottish judge, they would have been given airtime to talk about how wonderful the judiciary and judges are - and how misogyny, corruption, institutional wrongdoing, tax evasion and many many other issues of sleaze and concealment of vested intestines, conflicts of interest and financial assets - never ever occurs when it comes to UK and Scottish judges ..
@ 14 July 2023 at 09:34
As blog journalists started looking at the issues in the mid 2010s, it was always interesting why the wider media stayed away from reporting on Non Disclosure Agreements ... particularly because NDAs are so often used in the media industry itself and in politics, public services & public life.
@ 15 July 2023 at 19:07
Yes, it does seem so.
Interesting that Interpol were turned down for a London venue ... and such a conference was pushed to Glasgow ... really cannot think of a more unlikely site with such an ashamedly lawless legal system as it is right now to hold an annual get-together on 'law enforcement' issues.
Noting several unpublished comments and information received - these will be looked at and authors replied to.
Your comment section continues to enthrall as much as your reporting
I am imagining what if they try putting forward Livingstone or even Nicola Sturgeon as the new boss of Interpol
A Conservative/SNP double act in the making or is that how all things are with the Scottish National Party standing in for the Conservatives in Scotland
SNP = Conservative and always has since they got their Scottish Parliarment
Any of the above explain the missing NHS reports based on a John Swinney letter? Mr Swionney should check his facts instead of causing public concern over doubtful claims?
Kind of interesting to read about threats from drug dealers to journalists and Scottish Ministers on some kind of related issue in the same paragraph.
Is this why the Scottish pretendy government want to decriminalise drugs and turn Scotland into the drug den of UK/Europe?
Look at how they dressed up caring for cocaine sales in their Caring Compassionate headline
https://www.gov.scot/publications/caring-compassionate-human-rights-informed-drug-policy-scotland/
A Caring, Compassionate and Human Rights Informed Drug Policy for Scotland
Published 7 July 2023
Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy
This paper outlines what a progressive, evidence-based drugs policy would look like with public health and the reduction of harm as its underlying principles.
and they persuaded certain woke lefty newspapers to support decriminalising drug using and by extension drug dealing by running front pages and double page spreads on how good Scotland is for being bold enough to legalise drugs for everyone.
I didn't see the Chief Constable come out and demand drugs and by extension drug sales and drug dealing be decriminalised.Was this a step too far for future job prospects?
Which newspaper will be bribed bunged or other to print lies to cover up the next SNP scandal?
This is a horrible decade for Scotland we are in the middle of the great nat swindle on all of us aided and abetted by London Tories.
What next? will the Scottish pretendy government do a caring and compassionate legalisation of terrorism shoplifting and every other public cash fraud they come up with to cover up their Ferries Hospitals Schools Roads Council Tax and every other taxpayer funded con artist scheme?
Someone on Twitter dm'd me to read your comments about a John Swinney NHS scandal and the gangster drug dealers threats against your journalists is this anything to do with all those deleted tweets from that anti SNP nut on Swinney helping in a hospital thing?
Is Swinney going to be questioned about what he all said in the letters? I hope so I thought it was all a scam from the start and none of the other politicians who were dragged into it made any mention on their Facebook or Twitter about the supposedly crusading John Swinney now caught up big time in a very creepy gangster story.
While I am here what do you think about the Police investigation of the SNP cash scandal?
Can our Police really be trusted?I read your articles and I dont think they can.Everything in Scotland is SNP run and I believe it is fair to ask so how can the SNP cops investigate the SNP?
EXACTLY THIS ON BBC SCANDALS!!
"The presenter was eventually identified, and this was reported in the wider media.
The public should really be asking to see all the Non Disclosure Agreements and similar secrecy deals at 'the nation's broadcaster' ... and take a wider look at the vested interests of that particular broadcaster - which itself is known to go after, brief against, and aggressively boycott other journalists and public interest news deemed not in the broadcaster's interests to report"
What form do the drug dealer threats take and how does this connect to the disappeared NHS scandal?
Have you passed this to the Police?
Law Society peeps asking qs about you
So with only weeks to go before retirement and a no doubt very cushy pension to collect the head of police scotland spills the beans about a system he has been responsible for supervising for several years.
Why am I not surprised?
Obviously this is a hot story and exposure of more corruption at Police Scotland and angers those supporting police corruption.
I noticed yesterday the Scottish Tories, their Twitter clone accounts and lawyers launched a coordinated attack on your Twitter yesterday after you posted this news.
Any idea why a Tory msp who wrote and quoted police said Iain Livingstone was not fit to be Chief Constable is now backing the same Chief Constable to become Interpol chief?
What do you think about the Non Disclosure thing and why are the press so dead against publishing anything about this until recently?Non Disclosures went on for years and only now we are gettingto hear about it
One of the figures for the law firms is a lie.
They received £600,000 for the work alone not the settlement and I know this because a friend works at the firm and told me to read your FOI disclosure.
Have you read this?
This is a very convenient headline after your investigation is published
Do you think whoever leaked the archive allegations and investigation was acting in revenge for the Tory SNP backed Interpol job for Police Scotland Chief Constable leak?
https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2023/07/26/news/police_chief_suspended_following_misconduct_allegations-3471254/
Police Ombudsman 'investigating allegations of sexual offences' against former PSNI ACC Will Kerr
Claire Hayhurst, PA 26 July, 2023 14:56
The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has confirmed a criminal investigation into “serious allegations of sexual offences” has been launched into Will Kerr, the suspended chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, who previously served with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for more than 27 years.
Will Kerr, who joined the Devon and Cornwall force in December 2022, was suspended by Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez.
In a statement this afternoon, Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland Marie Anderson said: “The Police Ombudsman commenced a criminal investigation into serious allegations of sexual offences against a former PSNI senior officer, currently the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall, on 16 June 2023, using her own motion powers.
“The ombudsman will also consider the circumstances under which the allegations were investigated by PSNI.
“The office has been engaging with the IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) on cross-jurisdictional issues in recent weeks, as well as with the office of the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner.
“Details concerning the precise nature of the allegations and any early investigative actions remain confidential at this time.
“Independence and impartiality are central to all Police Ombudsman investigations and the office will be robust in following the evidence to ensure that any police officer in breach of the law and who abuses their position of trust will be held to account.
“As the investigation is at an early stage, it is not possible to confirm a likely timeframe for its conclusion.”
Mr Kerr has spent more than 30 years in policing and was deputy chief constable at Police Scotland before joining Devon and Cornwall.
He served with the PSNI for more than 27 years and reached the rank of assistant chief constable there, leading on both serious crime and counter terrorism.
In 2015 he was made an OBE, and he received the King’s Police Medal in the New Year Honours earlier this year.
The PSNI has said it will support an investigation by the Police Ombudsman in Northern Ireland into serious allegations of serious sexual offences against the suspended chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police Will Kerr.
A PSNI statement said: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland is aware of a Police Ombudsman’s criminal investigation and will support the ombudsman as required.”
A statement issued by the office of Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez this afternoon said: “Pursuant to section 38(2) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, Alison Hernandez, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, has suspended the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, Will Kerr OBE KPM, following allegations of misconduct.
“The commissioner has referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which has confirmed it will commence an investigation.”
Google clipped my comment here is the remainder of the news story on Kerr please read!
https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2023/07/26/news/police_chief_suspended_following_misconduct_allegations-3471254/
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed deputy chief constable Jim Colwell would become acting chief constable following the suspension of Mr Kerr.
Mr Colwell said: “I understand our communities will be concerned about the reports in the media today regarding the suspension of Chief Constable Will Kerr KPM by the Police and Crime Commissioner.
“The PCC suspension of Mr Kerr follows a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
“I am keen to reassure the public that we will maintain our focus on delivering the best possible service to our communities.
“We have thousands of dedicated and professional officers, staff and volunteers within our force and strong leadership throughout which, when pulled together, mean we can continue to make improvements at pace to provide our communities with the highest levels of service they deserve.”
Mr Colwell added: “I will be stepping into the role of Acting Chief Constable on an interim basis to ensure consistency of leadership and service delivery of policing across the peninsula.
“This now remains a matter for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the IOPC to investigate.”
A spokesman for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said: “Following assessment of a referral from the Police and Crime Commissioner, we have decided to investigate allegations of misconduct against the Chief Constable of Devon & Cornwall Police, Will Kerr.”
Ian Drysdale, vice chair of the chief police officers staff association (CPOSA), said: “The Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police Force was today suspended in respect of an ongoing enquiry into legacy misconduct matters for which he is yet to be interviewed.
“CC Kerr recognises and respects the fact that accountability and due process are vital to any investigation, regardless of rank or position.
“He will continue to cooperate with any investigation and hopes that all matters are expedited so that they can be concluded without further delay.”
In a statement, Police Scotland said: “Will Kerr left Police Scotland in 2022. These allegations do not relate to his time at Police Scotland and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Yes I saw what El Del @Del_ivered did to you on Twitter and it was obviously arranged beforehand
El Del posted comments on your blog Tweet pretending to compliment you then asked Dunlop QC to comment and when this did not work because I think you said he is blocked?
@Del_ivered quote posted your Tweet again and invited Dunlop to comment
Dunlop then says to take what you say with a bag of salt and something about himself I wont quote here as it could be bait
@Del_ivered then congratulates Dunlop for his comment
While all this is going on Tory Findlay Office Manager followed you.
I know this because a friend of yours from the SNP Digital Team took a pic of her following you and sent it round our group with a comment to watch developments!
Was she there to watch the rehearsed and arranged trap to use in the Tory set up of Scotland's best law blogger who speaks the truth?
The Tories know you do no like them Peter and they will hate your guts for this.There is no good Tory! Never trust a Tory! The Tories ruined Scotland and everyone knows it!
Well done for your views Peter I truly do not know if you are SNP or anything else but I do know you treat people you help very well and I do know you report the real truth on Scotland's filthy rotten world of lawyers and this is why the Law Society and all the lawyers hate you
What Dunlop said about you only makes me trust you even more because unlike all the nasty lawyers and worn out newspapers you give us the truth and the material to make our own minds up and you do not ram political hatred down our throats and tell us to vote for crooks who pay for stories!
Well done Peter!
@ 16 July 2023 at 19:09
Oh yes ... a real and very audible howler for the ex Deputy FM. All in good time.
@ 16 July 2023 at 21:14
Scotland seems to be a place right now where it depends which Organised Criminal Group including politicians people align with ... and some who wrote about gangsters may be bigger gangsters than the gangsters they ever wrote about - a quote received from an MSP on a relevant media query.
@ 17 July 2023 at 01:08
Choose your media sources wisely. Times have changed, what was once more reliable reporting has now turned into vested interests, and more or less outright lies. Don't believe for one second the media is a united fraternity. Hacking, briefings against colleagues, media used for vendetta & revenge campaigns against business & other are more regular than people ever get to read of - and most of it is backed by or given legal protection by media lawyers with links to the judiciary.
@ 17 July 2023 at 13:57
Lots of audio & video footage, all sent to relevant agencies. Ironical one of the principle characters appears to grass on his own 'gang' in attempts at extortion & influence much more than any grass ever did.
@ 28 July 2023 at 15:14
Birds of a feather flock together
@ 29 July 2023 at 10:10
NDAs are as habitual in the media industry as anywhere else, perhaps even more so - hence why minimal reporting. Fortunately extensive information on NDAs & cases has recently been made aware to blog journos ...
@ 29 July 2023 at 10:21
Thanks, yes the figures do seem light ... please contact the blog via email to discuss.
@ 29 July 2023 at 16:44
Will Kerr is an INTERPOL delegate .. therefore this recent activity could well be related, thanks ...
@ 29 July 2023 at 22:50
Most or all of the Scottish Twitter right wing pro-union pro-Tory accounts are funded by dark money and have connections to their sympathetic political party. One who joined their number said so in his own words prior to joining up with the ruinous extreme right wing fanatics.
Any member of the public who wants to find out reasonable information about the legal profession rather than from lawyers making sweeping claims and statements to each other on personal ego and perceived greatness where there is actually none - should look in other places.
Your comment mentions a "pic" of what is essentially a Scottish Parliamentary staff follower and a series of posts which are roughly correct in terms of the timeline. Blog journalists took screenshots of postings and followers as they occurred, however if you would like to send in a copy of material you refer to, it would be good to have extra info from another source.
In relation to several unpublished comments and several emails these matters will be looked at and responded to.
screens of the Twitter posts and the office manager following you sent as requested
any chance we can chat on a service of you/your colleagues choice?
much to say I emailedyou links please consider talking to us Peter we have so much in common and your work is second to none
Kerr is on Interpol?
Easy to see what happened here
You published this piece on Livings tone and Police Scotland
Then someone probably with a stake in sending Livings tone to Interpol takes revenge against Kerr because the investigation in Northern Ireland is on old information not something from last week and they must have known all about it at Police Scotland long ago
Not sure if you know this however most of the online opposition to the Scottish National Party is run managed and helped on by solicitors and advocates
I checked through every one of them and the same lawyers advocates and a few of your judges and their families using false name social media accounts such as on Twitter all follow the main anti-SNP accounts such as AgentP ElDel Majority and many more of same who are really the same people.
A Scottish lawyer who said he wanted torape the head of Rape Crisis Scotland to have something on her who featured in a double page Sunday Mail expose is also worth looking at because he deleted his own account and one of his friends said he uses other false name accounts The 'opposition political parties' all protected this same lawyer because he has relatives in one and friends in the other and they stopped the story from coming out until the Sunday Mail published it
So a warning to anyone reading this do not take any notice of all the fake name social media accounts tearing down the SNP because they are all fake and all lead back to the Tories and lawyers and this is why Del chose that particular lawyer to have a go at you and the Tory office manager followed you to see they completed whatever job they had in mind to finish you off.
The British Conservatives are trying to get their choice as Interpol boss which would be like putting in a corrupt former Conservative Prime Minister as the head of an international police force
I saw the picture of the person who followed you on Twitter when ElDel tried to hijack you in what was intended to be a long hate filled discussion about you with comments from RD and other lawyers
You know which Tory msp she works for, right?
A friend of yours told us this was planned because no Tories ever followed your Twitter
So the Tories and their supporters are looking to take you out is what they are saying among themselves in messages
Now I know you are 100% genuine because anyone the Tories fear or want to take out is a good guy!
The British want a crook at interpol to cover up their international crimes
"Derided opposition politician in Scotland arranges his own unionist gangster style hits on journalists" is what I heard
Notice the background of meaningless books and no uniform for the outgoing Chief Constable.
The Sam Poling interview where she asks him about why he was demoted over the rape allegations is much more interesting.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-66385753
Sooner SNP police probe ends the better, says chief constable
Sir Iain Livingstone is due to retire next week as Police Scotland's chief constable
By David Cowan
Home affairs correspondent, BBC Scotland
Police Scotland's chief constable has said the sooner the investigation into the SNP's finances is concluded the better for everyone involved.
Sir Iain Livingstone said he hoped it would clarify "evidence and facts" instead of "rumours and innuendo".
The investigation has seen former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon arrested before being released without charge.
Sir Iain said his working relationship with Ms Sturgeon had made the process "difficult".
But he insisted the two years already spent on Operation Branchform were "entirely legitimate".
And he denied any suggestion that it had been politically motivated.
In his last interview before he retires next week, Sir Iain said: "We are duty bound to investigate matters if they are reported to us.
"Our action and our investigation is in the interests of everybody involved because it will clarify facts and deal with evidence and facts as opposed to rumour and innuendo.
"So the sooner this investigation is concluded, the better for everyone involved."
'No artificial timescale'
However, the outgoing chief constable said it wasn't possible to predict when the police probe would be finalised.
"In the nature of these complex investigations, there are a whole series of factors and a multitude of variables that come into play," he said. "So I would never put an artificial timescale on it.
"It has to take its course. We will continue to work very closely with independent prosecutors and matters will progress in due course."
Police Scotland has been investigating what happened to more than £600,000 of donations given to the SNP by independence activists since 2021.
Ms Sturgeon has said she is certain she has done nothing wrong.
In April, police arrested Ms Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell, the SNP's former chief executive, before he was released without charge pending further investigation.
Nicola Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell were both arrested before being released without charge
As part of the operation, a tent was put up in the couple's garden as various items were removed from their Glasgow home. Sir Iain Livingstone later described the move as "proportionate and necessary".
Officers also searched the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh in April.
A luxury motorhome, costing about £110,000, was also seized by police from outside the home of Mr Murrell's mother in Dunfermline.
Almost two weeks later, SNP treasurer Colin Beattie was arrested and released without charge while further inquiries were carried out.
Mr Beattie resigned as party treasurer shortly afterwards.
Police tent outside Nicola Sturgeon's home in GlasgowImage source,
A police tent was erected outside Nicola Sturgeon's home in Glasgow during an investigation in April
Ms Sturgeon, Mr Murrell and Mr Beattie were the three signatories on the SNP's accounts.
The chief constable reiterated that the police investigation had not been politically motivated, saying he and his officers "have to do our duty without fear or favour".
He added: "These are difficult challenges but I would fiercely reject any sense that I, as an individual, am motivated through any political perspective.
"I am not. Not for a second. My priorities are the rule of law and public safety."
'Operational independence'
Sir Iain also said the investigation had not affected Police Scotland's relationship with the Scottish government and its ministers.
"Scottish ministers recognise the operational independence of the chief constable," he said.
"I would rightly be criticised if I hadn't conducted this investigation with the rigour that we are doing because I would have been seen as neglecting my duty. That has not happened."
Ms Sturgeon announced on 15 February - four months before her arrest - that she would be standing down as both SNP leader and first minister once a successor was elected. Humza Yousaf later won the contest to replace her.
She said at the time that she knew "in my head and in my heart" that it was the right time to go, and has since denied the timing was influenced by the police investigation.
Jo Farrell, the current chief constable of Durham Constabulary, will replace Sir Iain. She will be Police Scotland's first female chief constable.
Any idea of the identities of policing figures secretly meeting with an ultra right wing opposition party in a plot to discredit the Scottish National Party and in exchange given a job as a justice adviser and then onto a list msp at Holyrood?
Tory Findlay's office manager who followed you at the same time the ScotTories media team were organising the ElDel hit on your Twitter deleted all her tweets and removed her MSP Head of Office @@ScotTories title on her page.The SNP digital team are all talking about it and it is all round Holyrood what the Tories tried to do to you.A friend sent pics of the changes so I emailed these to your blog email.The Tories are nasty nasty nasty they are now attacking the few real journalists we have left in Scotland as I said Peter and I know you follow this NEVER TRUST A TORY!
Well done Peter for standing up to the Tory THUGS and thank you for replying to my first email
We all up stand for Scotland!!
@ 31 July 2023 at 11:41
Could be ...
@ 31 July 2023 at 12:17
Good observations and thanks for pointing out the legal profession's links to the online abuse accounts of unionist Twitter trolls - these were known for some time however it is good to see the public finally realise the control exerted by vested interests of online debate in Scotland.
@ 31 July 2023 at 13:31
Thanks, well spotted in connection with events and yes - no Tories follow that journo's Twitter account.
@ 3 August 2023 at 11:57
Headline could read 'Nation's broadcaster used (willingly) by Police in politician investigation campaign PR'
@ 5 August 2023 at 22:53
Thanks for sending those ... interesting before and after comparison.
Wouldn't dwell too much on events r.e. Twitter in Scotland ... which is a very small group of people in Scots public orgs, creepy ScotGov funded front orgs and political PR companies talking to mostly political party & legal vested interest driven media in an effort to generate false headlines and fake policy.
In response to additional unpublished comments - thanks for sending in the material referred to.
Responses have been issued and matters should be able to be progressed.
Another revelation, which only you are courageous enough to publish. It's not the fault of journalists per se but Editors who decide what is and what is not to be published...after consulting the owners of course.
Just discovered your youtube channel - the videos are a revelation!
Are you accepting any more comments on this report?
Have tried a few times without success :-
I take it you have seen the new Livingstone case leaks and all the grim details of the alleged sexual assault allegations and how the alleged assaults took place.Ex Justice Committee MSP John Finnie also named in papers detailing how the Scottish Police Federation and senior cops in Lothian and borders Police helped Livingstone at the time of his suspension.A former journalist who runs a PR firm is also named as a "media asset" to Police.
Post a Comment