Police watchdog calls for better whistleblowing procedures

Police Scotland’s watchdog has called for whistleblowing procedures in the force to be improved so officers can bring complaints related to internal affairs.

Andrew Flanagan, chairman of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) said officers were uncomfortable raising complaints regarding the Professional Standards Department and the force’s counter corruption unit – both of which are tasked with investigating complaints.

The CCU is currently under review following data breaches when officers attempted to identify a journalistic source reporting on the 2005 case of murdered prostitute Emma Caldwell.

Appearing before Holyrood’s Justice Committee, Mr Flanagan said officers were left with no option but to speak to Crimestoppers or their staff association.

New chief constable, Philip Gormley, said there were 133 referrals to the force’s Integrity Matters initiative after it launched last March.

Of those referrals, 29 were about possible crimes which the rest were general in nature.

Mr Flanagan added that Integrity Matters was essentially a whistleblowing service but that there were weaknesses with the system.

He said: “It doesn’t actually deal with complaints or whistleblowing that might arise as a result of the work of Professional Standards or the Counter Corruption Unit.

“It’s not specified that if you have a complaint against the people who themselves would conduct the investigations, how would you report that.

“The only alternative is to go to your staff association or to Crimestoppers. I think, potentially, the SPA should have an identifiable role within that as to complaints of that nature.”

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) is undertaking a review into the single force’s counter-corruption practices.

Mr Gormley said: “I have been briefed on the circumstances around that breach. We accept absolutely that mistakes and oversights were made. I am confident around that set of issues that we are now in a place where that will not be repeated.”