45 Police Scotland officers suspended over alleged VAWG

Jo Farrell told the BBC that the investigations were at different stages and she expected more officers to face sanctions. “We’ve got in the order of between 40 and 50 people currently suspended, so not at work, who are being investigated for offences that relate to violence against women and girls,” she said.

She added that around 8,000 officers were still awaiting renewed vetting following changes to regulations earlier this year.

The new rules allow officers who fail vetting to be removed from policing, a change Farrell welcomed. “My focus is on identifying where there is wrongdoing, criminality, particularly in relation to violence against women and girls, and if that has been committed by our officers and our staff, that we identify it and we ensure that those people feel the full force of the law,” she said.

The disclosures follow a series of high-profile cases involving serving and former Police Scotland officers.

Former officer Cameron Ross was jailed for 10 years in July after being convicted of raping two women and abusing a third. In September, retired sergeant Campbell Petrie was convicted of nine offences, including two counts of rape.

Police Scotland is also conducting an ongoing review of its handling of former officer Alan Greer, who died in May after being arrested in connection with a rape allegation. He is now being investigated over alleged violent sexual offences and attempted murder involving multiple women.

Craig Naylor, chief inspector at HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, said allegations of criminality by police officers required effective and thorough investigations. He said victims must remain at the centre of investigations and be supported and encouraged to come forward.

The force is reviewing its workforce following changes to vetting procedures introduced amid wider concerns about police misconduct.