Politics Morning Star
Police officers convicted of violent crimes still on payroll, says chief constable
ELEVEN Police Scotland officers convicted of crimes including violence against women and girls are still on the payroll, according to the force’s Chief Constable, Jo Farrell. The officers are among 80
English (original) ·Read in Deutsch ⇄
Big Tech / 13 November 2026 Union members keep Britain running as massive Microsoft outage disrupts police, NHS and schools 13 November 2026 Politics / 13 November 2026 Labour MP slams Piddington villagers for ‘cynically’ using Hillsborough Law to oppose asylum plans 13 November 2026 Scottish NHS / 13 November 2026 Constance: NHS Grampian scandal ‘a line in the sand’ 13 November 2026 Cost-of-living Crisis / 13 November 2026 Burnham ‘failing families’ on soaring food costs, says SNP 13 November 2026 Society / 13 November 2026 University faces calls to apologise for platforming ‘men’s rights’ group 13 November 2026 Workers' Rights / 13 November 2026 Wessex Water admits health and safety offences after four workers killed in blast 13 November 2026 ELEVEN Police Scotland officers convicted of crimes including violence against women and girls are still on the payroll, according to the force’s Chief Constable, Jo Farrell.
The officers are among 80 now suspended — at a cost of £4.5 million a year, a situation she branded “intolerable.”
Writing to Holyrood’s criminal justice committee convener David Linden ahead of its meeting this week, Ms Farrell blamed the bill on “suboptimal regulations.”
“This can leave individuals who ultimately have no place in policing within the organisation for longer than they should be,” she wrote.
“This is intolerable to me as Chief Constable and would rightly be intolerable to the public.”
The letter came as the committee considers Justice Secretary Neil Gray’s proposals to modernise police conduct arrangements.
Mr Gray said: “The Chief Constable is right that cases involving officers convicted of serious offences should be dealt with more quickly.
“This is why we have introduced regulations to Parliament that will allow Police Scotland to act quicker in cases where there are convictions.
“These are aimed at improving transparency and strengthening support for victims and witnesses, while retaining appropriate safeguards.”