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Post by Rubislaw32 on Dec 16, 2017 0:53:58 GMT -8
Police Scotland Chief Superintendent Alan Speirs has stated that a report,regarding complaints made against the force's Counter Corruption Unit,with personal information redacted,will be published by Christmas.
CS Speirs said : ''It is a very transparent process,and be obvious,when the redactions have taken place.''
News of the release of this information,comes in the wake of seven serving officers,being notified that they are under investigation for ''Gross Misconduct''.
An update to the Justice Committee,at Holyrood,Edinburgh,revealed the identities of the ''Caldwell Seven''.
Scottish Members of Parliament were informed that Northumbria Constabluary are conducting further investigations into the Counter Corruption Unit.
The Lawyer for Emma Caldwell's family,Aamer Anwar,stated :
''There is real anger and shock that Police Scotland should choose to use Parliament,to blurt out such information,thus compounding the agony for the Caldwell family.''
Mr.Anwar added :
''Emma's family have always felt a deep sense of betrayal by the police,with the C.C.U. always appearing to be more interested in chasing journalists and law abiding officers,than those who have let Emma's killer,escape justice.However,the first priority for Emma's family,remains the new murder inquiry which,12 years on,has given them new hope.''.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Dec 22, 2017 13:57:15 GMT -8
A report which led to seven police officers,working for Police Scotland's Counter Corruption Unit,has just been published.
The report amounts to an inquiry,carried out at the behest of Police Scotland's Chief Constable,Philip Gormley,into allegations of illegal spying on journalist sources,with its presumed focus on the murder re-investigation of Emma Caldwell.
Durham Constabulary elected to downgrade it to an inquiry,from an ''investigation'',following claims that they were not given access to certain individuals,for the purpose of interview.
Four months ago,after mounting allegations made against Chief Constable Gormley,he was to ''step aside'',on ''special leave''.
Mary Fee MSP,and Convener of the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing,has made the following comments,in light of the report's publication :
''This latest information to come to light in the long running saga of Police Scotland's CCU needs to be digested and scrutinised by Members of Parliament.As we head toward the new year,I think one safe prediction for 2018 is that more senior police officers will be appearing before committees of the Scottish Parliament to explain themselves.''.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Dec 24, 2017 12:23:37 GMT -8
It was revealed to-day,that the Scottish Police Authority,responsible for overseeing policing standards,had agreed last month,to allow Chief Constable Philip Gormley to resume his responsibilities,as head of Police Scotland.
However,following a meeting of Scottish Ministers,the Justice Secretary,Michael Matheson was tasked with informing C.C.Gormley's solicitor,David Moran,that C.C.Gormley would not be welcome back.
David Moran was quoted as referring to Michael Matheson's instruction as ''unlawful''.
C.C.Gormley remains on ''special leave'',with full salary and benefits.
Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone remains in charge of Scotland's police force.
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Post by Ricardo on Dec 25, 2017 0:18:34 GMT -8
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Dec 25, 2017 18:20:01 GMT -8
Indeed,Ricardo
One must hope that,with all this extra,albeit negative focus....that the Crown Prosecution Service will pull out all the stops,in order to deliver justice for Margaret Caldwell.
And,naturally,the reason why these posts are made,in this thread,is because there may or may not be a lot more to the ''saga'',as quoted by Mary Fee MSP,than meets the eye [?].
The expression,''A comedy of errors'' comes to mind,with a ''Whole picture'',so far lacking transparency,much less clarity.
Anyone looking in,for the first time,must surely think : '' What on earth is going on ? ''.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Jan 10, 2018 13:40:19 GMT -8
Michael Matheson MSP,and Justice Minister for the Scottish Parliament,stood up in Holyrood today,and stated his case for blocking a return to work for Chief Constable Philip Gormley.
Mr.Matheson denied that he had acted ''unlawfully'',and accused the Scottish Police Authority's decision to invite Mr.Gormley to return,as ''completely unacceptable'',in light of misconduct charges against Mr.Gormley,yet to be resolved.
Parliamentary opposition parties were in agreement that the hierarchy of Police Scotland was an ''almighty mess'',with Matheson,the S.P.A.,and Gormley ''at each other's throats''.
Earlier in the day,Margaret Mitchell MSP,and Convener of the Parliament's Justice Committee,had stated that she believed that Matheson's role as Justice Minister would be ''untenable'',if he continued to overrule the S.P.A.'s decision,to allow Gormley to return to his duties.
It is known that the Justice Committee would be eager to question C.C.Gormley,over ''information discrepancies'' and findings in a recently published,but heavily redacted report into alleged illegal activity at Police Scotland's Counter Corruption Unit,with a ''presumed'' link to the murder of Emma Caldwell.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Jan 14, 2018 10:31:40 GMT -8
Pressure on Scotland's Justice Minister,Michael Matheson,mounts,as revelations in today's ''The Herald'' newspaper,claims that Chief Constable Phillip Gormley's ''absence'' may be,in part, ''orchestrated'' by Mr.Matheson.
Following Mr.Gormley's solicitor's claim that Matheson had acted ''unlawfully'',in blocking Gormely's return to work,a secret meeting is claimed to have taken place,in Edinburgh,between Gormley,himself,and Justice civil servant,Paul Johnstone,who was representing Matheson.
Also revealed,is that Ministers,including Matheson,who concluded that Gormley should not return to work,failed to take minutes of that meeting.Therefore no official record exists of the meeting having taken place.
Clearly,and for whatever precise reason,the Scottish Government do not want Gormley to return to his duties.
But,this must bring in to question,the legitimacy,and indeed the ''authenticity'' of the misconduct charges brought against the Chief Constable [?].
And indeed,if it is the case that Gormley holds ''sensitive'' information....what is that information ?
Further to this,who else might be aware of this information ?
And,by inference,who else is dependent on Gormley's silence [?].
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Jan 18, 2018 12:27:27 GMT -8
With five misconduct charges having been levelled against Police Scotland's Chief Constable,Philip Gormley,the announcement of a sixth misconduct charge has been submitted to The Police Investigation and Review Committee [PIRC].
The Law firm representing C.C.Gormley,''Burness Paull'',has made the following statement :
''The Chief Constable entirely denies the allegation as ''spurious'' and ''contrived''.The Chief Constable is disturbed by the timing of this allegation arising,and it gives rise to serious questions in light of the recent political debate about his employment status.''.
It is believed that PIRC have yet to investigate three of the first five misconduct charges.With a further misconduct charge,the press are predicting that PIRC will not complete their investigations,until Spring,at the earliest.
C.C.Gormley has remained on ''special leave''now,for the last four months.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Jan 19, 2018 18:10:44 GMT -8
Criticism of the Scottish Government's handling of Chief Constable Philip Gormley's enforced ''leave of absence'' is becoming more ''vocal''.
Claire Gormley,wife of the Chief Constable,and a former police officer herself,today spoke out in defence of her husband,claiming that there was little evidence of an attempt to find the truth,in the case brought against him.
At Holyrood,the leader of the Scottish Conservatives,Ruth Davidson,said that the row was an example of the government's ''Secret Scotland''.And,she added : ''It stinks !''.
At Westminster,the matter was brought up in the House of Lords,with Lord Forsyth claiming that : ''The conduct of the Scottish Government,in respect of Scottish Policing,is extremely worrying for everyone in the U.K.''.
The Police Investigations and Review Commission,examining the misconduct charges brought against C.C.Gormley,are claiming that they have a heavy workload at present,in light of criticism of the time they appear to be taking,in dealing with the matter.
With regard to the PIRC's claim,Mrs.Gormley said :
''This basic investigation has all the features of a disproportionate fishing expedition.It can be to no one's advantage to have this dragging out; or can it ? ''.
Perhaps this is the most pertinent question,posed so far [?].
Is it actually,to some party's advantage,to have C.C.Gormley's investigation ''dragged out'' ?
And,''buying time'' for what,precisely [?].
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Jan 20, 2018 12:50:04 GMT -8
It was announced last week,that seven police officers from Police Scotland's Counter Corruption Unit,accused of complicity in illegally monitoring of newspaper sources,have been cleared of wrong doing,following an inquiry,by the Northern Ireland Constabulary.
The names of the seven officers,had emerged from a previous inquiry,led by Durham Constabulary.
Detective Superintendent Clark Cuzen had been the only publicly named officer,under scrutiny.
Senior detective David Donaldson,Deputy Chief Constable Neil Richardson and Assistant Chief Constable Ruaraidh Nicolson,who had all been previously criticised for misrepresentation,have already retired from the force.
Lawyer Aamer Anwar,representing the family of Emma Caldwell,whose murder investigation is presumed to be the prime focus of the alleged illegal monitoring,conveyed that Ms.Caldwell's family were : ''....tired of repeated apologies,promises to change,and inquiries into inquiries.''
Mr.Anwar added : ''The fact remains that Emma's killer is still out there,and this is down to her betrayal by the police.''.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Jan 23, 2018 9:04:49 GMT -8
In the latest twist and turn of events,surrounding Police Scotland's sidelined boss,Chief Constable Philip Gormley,it emerges that PIRC,the review commission examining his misconduct charges,had attempted to make interview arrangements with Gormley,in December.
A three day period was required,and despite Gormley's enforced leave,was unable to accommodate PIRC until March 19th.
There has been growing criticism with the press,regarding Gormley's decision to allow his wife to speak out publicly,on a previous interpretation,that PIRC was struggling to complete its investigation of Gormley.
It has also emerged that,current boss of Police Scotland,Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone,was facing a misconduct charge in July of last year.This somehow,and for some unknown reason,was ''deferred'',with Livingstone being appointed to lead Scotland's Police Force,when Gormley was forced to step aside,a few weeks later.
To-morrow [Wednesday],a debate in the Chambers of Holyrood,over Gormley's ''employment status'' will resume,with First Minister,Nicola Sturgeon,likely to take the brunt of criticism from opposition parties.
On Thursday,a cross-party committee of politicians is to question Andrew Flanagan,ex-leader of the Scottish Police Authority,into his role in allowing Gormley to return to his duties,without consultation with Justice Minister,Michael Matheson.
A decision,by Flanagan,that Matheson was to overrule.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Jan 24, 2018 16:05:05 GMT -8
News yesterday evening of a seventh complaint,made against Chief Constable Philip Gormley,was lodged with the Scottish Police Authority.This time,relating to misleading information,and lodged by the Scottish Police Federation,which represents rank-and-file officers.
As ex-leader of the S.P.A.,Andrew Flanagan,prepares to answer questions to-morrow,on his original,but ill fated decision to allow C.C.Gormley to return to his duties,the new ''chair'' of the S.P.A.,Professor Susan Deacon,publicly stated her support for Justice Minister,Michael Matheson's overruling of Flanagan.
One can only presume that C.C.Gormley's tenure,is soon to over,once a severance package is agreed [?]
And,one that buys his silence [?].
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Jan 27, 2018 4:41:10 GMT -8
The Scottish Police Authority [S.P.A.],under new leadership of Professor Susan Deacon,have announced that they have formally written to Chief Constable Philip Gormley,to inform him that he is to remain on special leave,until the misconduct charges made against him,are investigated.
Justice Minister,Michael Matheson,and the Scottish Government have,in effect,enforced their wishes,which they believe is in the best interests of Policing and the public.
It remains to be seen if,C.C.Gormley is prepared to see the investigation process through - or tender his resignation,with an agreed severance deal.
There are already calls for Matheson's resignation,for his ''dubious'' methods in intervening in what many might have seen as ''police business''.
In examining what Gormley ''might'' be guilty of,I would suggest that the emphasis should actually be placed more on ''procrastination'' over the report into the Counter Corruption Unit's behaviour,with presumed links to the investigation of the murder of Emma Caldwell.C.C.Gormley was in possession of that report,last May,and yet it was more than six months later,that it was handed over into the public domain,and in heavily redacted form.
It is now almost three years,since those alleged ''schoolboy shenanigans'' took place at the C.C.U.,with politicians and the public not much wiser on what actually took place,than ever before,and with justice for Ms.Caldwell's family,still an elusive prospect.
The charges that are actually levelled at C.C.Gormley,amount to bullying,dishonesty and wastefulness of public monies.
The reaction,in the public gaze,appears more as if someone has taken out a sledgehammer,in order to crack a walnut [?].
There is a lot more to this,than meets the eye.
In the words of Ruth Davidson : ''It stinks !''.
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Post by Rubislaw32 on Feb 7, 2018 15:10:13 GMT -8
Chief Constable Philip Gormley has announced his resignation,as leading officer of Police Scotland.
C.C.Gormley said :
''The events since November have led me to the conclusion that it is impossible for me to resume my duties in a meaningful way,prior to the end of my contract.''.
Justice Minister,Michael Matheson,is facing fresh calls to resign,amid more claims of police meddling.
Labour Party spokesman for Justice,David Johnson,said :
''The case of Philip Gormley descended into utter farce,and raised serious questions about ministerial oversight.Regardless of Mr.Gormley's decision to resign,there are still questions for Michael Matheson to answer.''.
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Post by Ricardo on Feb 8, 2018 0:25:13 GMT -8
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