A criminal probe into Tayside Police drugs squad was sparked by claims officers used over-zealous ”Sweeney-style” methods to obtain information from suspects.
The Courier revealed yesterday that 24 serving officers are to be questioned as part of Operation Teal, the long-running investigation into allegations of criminal behaviour by some members of the Tayside Police drugs squad.
It is now understood Grampian Police, who are carrying out the investigation to ensure its independence, are investigating allegations including officers assaulting suspects and using unnecessary force.
Officers who may have witnessed these incidents are also being quizzed.
A Crown Office spokesman said: ”We can confirm that the senior procurator fiscal in Tayside has received information relating to alleged incidents involving serving police officers.
”These matters remain under consideration and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.”
Despite the unprecedented scale of the investigation, the Tayside Police Federation, the union which represents rank-and-file officers, has said it remains ”relaxed” about the investigation and is confident officers have not been guilty of any wrongdoing.
But one police source said that the investigation was sparked by complaints about the aggressively physical methods used by some officers.
It is also understood the inquiry may be looking at how some people were treated after being taken into custody in Perth.
”The problem has been that they have had police officers put into specialised positions and they have not got the experience or training behind them,” said the source.
”It’s all pretty much hush-hush and even the force executive is being kept in the dark about the investigation. I think they had been trying to find out what was going on but got nowhere as the investigation is being carried out by the professional standards unit at Grampian Police.”
The source added that the investigation is not just limited to the drugs squad.
”Part of the inquiry is, I understand, linked to custodies at Perth so that will involve drugs squad officers and operational officers who were on duty at the time,” the source claimed.
The source also claimed Tayside Police executive was rebuffed by Grampian Police, who were called in to ensure the independence of the inquiry, when they attempted to learn about its progress.
”The force executive has been trying to find out more about the investigation but was told to get knotted,” said the source.
Grampian Police are refusing to answer any media queries about the investigation.
David Hamilton, secretary of the Tayside Police Federation, said it was ”business as usual” for officers asked to attend interviews in connection with Operation Teal but did admit the investigation may have affected morale within the drugs squad.
He said: ”The officers have been asked to assist with an inquiry and they are willingly attending these interviews.
”It is business as usual the only difference is these 24 officers are being interviewed in a cluster. It is normal business and we expect this.”
But he admitted the investigation could undermine morale in the drugs squad, as the negative publicity may detract from what has been a successful year for the squad.
”It is a bit of a kick in the teeth for morale for the drugs squad, as they have had a very successful year over the first six months they have taken £1.25 million worth of drugs off the streets,” he said.
Yesterday Tayside Police Joint Board convener councillor Jimmy Black said he believed the probe would not undermine public confidence in the force.