Police Scotland is investigating 134 officers for alleged crimes and misconduct including sexual offences, stalking, theft, multiple assaults and several data protection breaches, the force’s civilian watchdog has learned.
Three officers of the rank of inspector or above, 11 sergeants, 120 constables plus two special constables and six police staff are under investigation, a report submitted to the Scottish Police Authority’s Complaints and Conduct Committee reveals.
Personnel on restricted duties pending investigation have dropped by over a tenth from 163 in the three months to June to 142 in the latest quarter.
But the number of officers being investigated under the Sexual Offences Act has risen from four to six.
Eight officers resigned while under investigation in the last three months, twice as many as in the previous quarter.
One officer was dismissed and another docked pay for discreditable conduct, one was fined for neglect of duty and another given a final written warning after being convicted of a crime in court.
Two officers above inspector who were previously under investigation for neglect of duty and discreditable conduct are no longer on the restricted officer list, but an investigation into another senior officer facing the same allegation has now continued for almost a year.
Breaches of the Data Protection Act is the most common charge, while one is being investigated under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 which regulates spying and surveillance.
The SPA committee met in Glasgow the day after the Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office (IOCCO) found Police Scotland accessed data without proper consent while trying to uncover a journalist’s sources.
The number of officers being investigated for breaching data protection has dropped from 64 to 56 in the latest report.
Assault remains the second most common allegation but the number of officers being investigated has dropped from 35 to 28.
A further 22 officers are being investigated under the wide-ranging Criminal Justice and Licensing Act, 13 for perverting the course of justice, eight for discreditable conduct, six for neglect of duty, and six for theft.
The most recent charges include one constable under investigation for assault, threatening and abusive behaviour and vandalism, and an officer at the level of inspector or above under the Criminal Justice and Licensing Act.