Matheson asked for explanation over police spying revelations

Following revelations Police Scotland acted illegally in identifying journalists’ sources used by a Sunday tabloid in its coverage of murdered prostitute Emma Caldwell, opposition parties at Holyrood have called for an explanation from Justice Minister Michael Matheson.

The Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office (IOCCO) said last week that the single force breached the Acquisition and Disclosure of Communications Data Code of Practice 2015 in regards to five applications for communications data.

Now Labour’s justice spokesman, Graeme Pearson, has said Mr Matheson should not be allowed to “go missing” over the latest police scandal.

A former detective’s phone details were examined illegally by officers looking at leaks in the Caldwell inquiry.

The detective, George Gallacher, told the tabloid: “When it was suggested to me that the police had been intercepting my phone information, I found it very hard to believe.

“Now that it has been confirmed, I still find it very hard to believe.”

Ms Caldwell, 27, was found near Biggar in South Lanarkshire in May 2005. Her killer has not been found.

Several Turkish men were arrested but not charged. The newspaper published stories on another potential suspect.

Mr Pearson said: “Michael Matheson has said he knew nothing about this case but he has been SNP Justice Secretary for more than a year now, and has been invisible during the biggest crisis of confidence in Scottish policing in generations.

“This cannot be another policing scandal where he goes missing.”