Members of an alleged sexist ‘boys’ club’ of Forres policemen whose conduct was investigated in 2018 could still be prosecuted if new evidence of criminality emerges, prosecutors have said.
Shocking allegations of bullying and misogyny were probed by the police watchdog after the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) ordered an investigation.
It lasted 15 months at a cost of almost £250,000 (£247,201.50) and submitted potential evidence against seven police officers to the Criminal Allegations Against the Police Division in April 2020.
But the COPFS said that, after “careful consideration” of the facts and circumstances of the case, there was “insufficient evidence of criminality” concerning six out of the seven.
The seventh man, a 53-year-old now-retired policeman named Herbert Scott Gallop, was convicted of a single charge of sexual assault earlier this week.
Gallop’s victim was also the whistleblower who instigated the police regulator’s inquiry into a series of complaints about a toxic culture of sexist bullying.
She alleged that three ‘boys’ club’ colleagues drove her to Roseisle woods where she was abandoned in the dark of night and left petrified before they collected her half an hour later.
It was claimed they’d tricked her into believing she was going to a possible crime scene.
The woman considered the act as a punishment for accusing her ex-partner, also a police officer, of sexual assault and domestic violence against her.
Allegations against the ‘boys’ club’
Six police employees made complaints, including:
- A heavily pregnant police constable who claimed she was locked in a room on the second floor and forced to use a fire escape to get out
- Another woman, a police staff member, who alleged she had to climb through a window to exit a room she was locked in on the ground floor
- A policewoman who reported feeling alarmed at and fearful of the behaviour of ‘boy’s club’ members
- A female constable who complained that colleagues dropped her off in the woods where she was abandoned in the middle of the night
In December 2019, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) began examining the whistleblower’s claims.
They were followed by a series of other complaints made by a further five other police employees.
Details of the investigation’s findings were not forthcoming when the Press and Journal asked the PIRC for further information.
A spokeswoman responded: “PIRC reports and findings are provided to COPFS in confidence. We have no further comments to add.”
Herbert Scott Gallop’s sexual assault conviction remains the only prosecution to arise from the PIRC’s probe.
However, a spokeswoman for the COPFS suggested that, although prosecutorial action has not been taken against the majority of officers associated with the PIRC investigation, the situation could change in the future.
‘Insufficient evidence’
She explained: “The Procurator Fiscal received reports in relation to seven police officers from the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.
“After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case by the Crown’s specialist Criminal Allegations Against the Police Division, Crown Counsel instructed that there was insufficient evidence of criminality in relation to six of the officers but the Crown reserves the right to proceed in the future should further evidence become available.
“Prosecutorial action was taken in relation to a seventh officer and those proceedings have resulted in the conviction of one man.”
The Press and Journal asked Police Scotland whether any of the other six individuals who were investigated by the PIRC remain in service and if any are based in Forres.
However, the question was not specifically answered when Police Scotland responded.
Chief Superintendent Catriona Henderson, head of the Professional Standards Department said: “We have reviewed recruitment and posting to bring additional perspective and experience into Moray, while supporting development opportunities in other roles for those within the area.
“This has transformed the staffing profile both in leadership roles and with probationary constables, enabling renewed focus on our values.”
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