Politicians have called for a probe into claims of ”systematic bullying and intimidation” at a Fife police college set to be the headquarters for a single Scottish force.
On Tuesday, The Courier exclusively revealed that Unison Fife has voiced concerns about the mistreatment of civilian staff based at Tulliallan.
Now justice spokesmen in the Scottish Parliament and the chairman of Fife Council’s police committee have demanded a full investigation.
Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman Alison McInnes said: ”With the new single police force to be based at Tulliallan it is vital that any culture of bullying is nipped in the bud immediately.
”The Scottish Government must take necessary steps to ensure that police and civilian staff have faith that any complaint will be dealt with as swiftly as possible.”
Labour’s community safety spokeswoman Jenny Marra MSP said: ”If there is evidence of bullying anywhere in the police force, it should be brought forward by the unions and investigated thoroughly.”
The chairman of Fife Council’s police transition committee, Councillor Gavin Yates, also called for full transparency.
He said: ”Everybody deserves dignity at work and these claims need to be investigated properly.”
A single Scottish police service is expected to begin operating on April 1 next year, with the Tulliallan facility earmarked as an interim headquarters.’Pressure’Unison Fife branch officer Alex Duncan has warned that additional pressure could be brought to bear on civilian staff.
”We’re worried that our members will be put under even more pressure not to speak out,” he told The Courier.
John Geates, director at the Scottish Police College, said his organisation has the gold standard from Investors in People for supporting its staff.
He added: ”Our people are our greatest asset and we are not complacent. Leading and managing in a time of change is a difficult and challenging task. But it’s one we take very seriously.”
But Unison Fife has criticised management style at Tulliallan, describing it as ”poor”.
Mr Duncan said: ”I have been raising my concern about the systematic bullying and intimidation and poor management at the police college for some time. And my request to meet with senior management about this, including to the police college director, has fallen on deaf ears.”
Mr Duncan’s allegations were substantiated by one worker, who asked not to be identified, saying: ”I’ve worked in various places and I’ve never experienced such an atmosphere of fear and intimidation before now ” there’s bullying and there’s intimidation and there’s a lack of support from senior managers.”Claims deniedMr Geates emphatically denied the claims in a statement issued on Tuesday.
The college director said: ”I absolutely reject these unsubstantiated suggestions that a culture of bullying exists in any part of our organisation. All employees, whether they be police staff or police officers, are treated the same under the same policies, there are no differences.
”Mr Duncan has at no time raised these issues with me nor have I turned down the opportunity to meet with him. But I would be happy to meet him so that he can provide evidence to substantiate his claims as a matter of urgency.”
Alex Duncan welcomed the offer of a meeting, adding: ”I have been attempting to meet with a representative of the college to discuss my concerns since summer of 2011 without success. I am happy to provide the communication with the college to Mr Geates, highlighting my concerns and requests for meetings.”
All 118 civilian staff at the college are employed by the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA), the government body responsible for supporting policing in Scotland.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ”We are working with the service, including the SPSA, to ensure the transition to the Police Service of Scotland is as smooth as possible and that all staff are fully informed and engaged in the process.”
The Courier also contacted the Scottish Police Federation, the body which represents Scotland’s 18,500 officers, but a spokesman declined to comment.