PIRC launches fresh inquiries into senior officers

The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) has launched two fresh investigations into senior officers following new allegations. Chief Constable Phil Gormley is now subject of four misconduct investigations after he received a sixth complaint on Tuesday (January 16). He was served with a fresh notice of investigation on Friday, and another senior officer was handed his third. Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins is currently subject to two misconduct investigations and one criminal investigation. He was suspended from Police Scotland in November after anonymous criminal allegations were made to the PIRC. The latest complaints were submitted to the PIRC on October 18 last year by the SPA. Mr Higgins and Mr Gormley have both denied the allegations. Once each investigation is concluded, Commissioner Kate Frame will submit a report to the Scottish Police Authority containing a summary of evidence and “an opinion on whether the misconduct allegations should be referred to a misconduct hearing”.