The findings of a police watchdog’s probe into officers who left a young footballer close to the Aberdeen bypass shortly before he was struck by a van will not be made public, the Press and Journal can reveal.
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) investigation was launched after Flynn Scott, 18, was hit near the A944 junction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).
Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond, who is the force’s executive lead for public confidence, said the report’s findings are still being scrutinised and it was “not unusual” that they weren’t being released publicly.
Shortly before the horrific collision, at around 2am on Sunday May 29, the teenager had been dropped near the AWPR by police officers, who’d earlier picked him up from the city centre of Aberdeen.
The findings of the PIRC investigation – which looked into “police interaction” in the run-up to the accident and made recommendations – were delivered to Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone QPM on September 30.
A spokeswoman for the force said: “We have received a report from the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner and are reviewing its contents.”
PIRC also discussed the report’s contents with Mr Scott’s family during a meeting that took place on October 3.
They have all declined to comment on the outcome of the inquiry, following advice from the family’s lawyer.
The report will remain secret after the PIRC commissioner decided not to release it into the public domain.
A spokeswoman for the watchdog said: “PIRC does not publish all reports arising from a police referral.
“The decision to publish takes account of many factors including the possibility of the identification of persons involved, the sensitivity and nature of the inquiry and any views expressed by the nearest relatives.”
Police Scotland has been considering the PIRC report for almost a month and a half.
In an exclusive interview with the Press and Journal, Assistant Chief Constable Bond said: “We want to ensure that, when we are putting in place responses or actions to any recommendations, we’re solving the issue.
“It shouldn’t in any way be construed as any lack of willingness or commitment or us burying our heads in the sand around any suggestion that we’ve got learning as an organisation to take.”
‘Sometimes it’s just not as black and white’
Asked whether publishing the report may be in the public interest, ACC Bond insisted that “transparency and openness” is a priority for Police Scotland.
“If the Chief Constable felt it was appropriate to do so, I would be 100% confident he would have no hesitation in making anything public that he felt was actually going to assist with public trust and confidence,” she said.
“Sometimes it’s just not as black and white. There are a lot of grey areas in policing and a lot of wider considerations, even beyond the legal and human considerations that might be obvious.”
The high-ranking officer also warned that one consequence of making reports public could be a risk that it might “retraumatise” victims and their loved ones.
Complaint to police over social content
It has also emerged that during Police Scotland’s in-house investigation into the collision, a member of the north-east roads policing unit was removed from the inquiry.
It’s understood the action was taken after a relative of the officer commented on the case on Facebook.
The comments, which have since been deleted by the author, included an exchange with Flynn’s mum Kay Scott.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “We received a complaint against police in relation to social media content, enquiries were carried out and a response was provided to the complainer.”
Flynn Scott amazed medics at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where he fought for his life as he was treated for a horrific head injury.
Paramedics who’d attended the May crash scene later described the collision as one of the worst they’d ever seen.
They had doubts that the former Cults Academy pupil would even survive the night.
But, after several weeks of being in a medically-induced coma, Flynn awoke and said his first words to his mum: “I love you”.
Against all the odds, and after being described by his own family as being on “death’s doorstep”, the former Westdyke Community Club Under 18s captain was moving and talking again.
At the time, mum Kay told the Press and Journal that doctors suggested her son had “a chance of full recovery” but added that there would be a “long journey ahead”.
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