Data obtained through freedom of information legislation by Channel 4’s Dispatches shows that 166 police officers and special constables were accused of 245 counts of sexual misconduct over the period.

Channel 4 will tonight air its investigation into police misconduct in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Metropolitan Police officer. It will ask why more is not being done to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct by police.

Police Scotland’s deputy chief constable Fiona Taylor said: “Police Scotland demands the highest levels of integrity from our officers and staff and when someone fails to meet this standard we take the appropriate action. We have no ability under current conduct regulations to prevent an officer from resigning.

“All sexual crime is absolutely abhorrent and our officers will carry out a thorough investigation into any complaint, irrespective of who the offender is. At the conclusion of any legal proceedings, further action will be considered by our professional standards department.”