Nearly 70% of Police Scotland officers currently suspended while under criminal investigation are accused of offences linked to violence against women, new figures show.
Of the 53 officers suspended pending criminal investigation, 26 are accused of domestic abuse-related offences, nine of sexual offences and two of stalking. Together that is 37 officers, around seven in ten of the total.
The figures, obtained by STV News, come amid continuing scrutiny of how forces across the UK respond when allegations are made against serving officers.
Who has been suspended
The suspended officers include 45 constables, six sergeants and two inspectors. All are suspended on full pay while investigations are carried out.
The remaining allegations cover a wide range of conduct. Four officers are accused of offences involving messages or comments, three of assault and three of data protection breaches. Two face drug allegations, and there is one case each of disorder, fraud, neglect of duty and a road traffic offence.
The longest-running case relates to a complaint made in 2020. The officer involved has been suspended since November of that year, meaning they have been away from duty, and paid, for almost six years.
A further ten civilian members of Police Scotland staff are also suspended, either because there is a live criminal investigation or because matters remain with the Crown Office or the courts following an investigation.
What the figures do not show
The numbers are a snapshot and do not capture the whole picture. They exclude officers whose criminal cases have concluded, either through the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service or the courts, and whose cases are now being considered under police misconduct procedures.
It is also important to stress that suspension is not a finding of guilt. Officers under investigation are entitled to the presumption of innocence, and some cases may end without charges or with acquittals.
Suspension is used where the nature of an allegation means it would be inappropriate for an officer to continue working while it is investigated. In cases involving allegations of domestic abuse or sexual offences, forces are under particular pressure to act quickly to protect the public and maintain confidence.
A wider reckoning
Policing across Britain has faced intense scrutiny over the treatment of women since the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Metropolitan Police officer in 2021. That case, and others that followed, prompted reviews of vetting, misconduct procedures and police culture in forces across the country, including in Scotland.
Police Scotland has previously acknowledged problems with its own culture. Its leadership has said that misogyny, racism and other discrimination have no place in the service, and the force has committed to rooting out officers who abuse their position.
The new figures will sharpen questions about how quickly cases are resolved. A suspension lasting almost six years raises concerns for complainers waiting for justice, for the accused officer awaiting an outcome and for taxpayers funding salaries while no police work is done.
Pressure for faster outcomes
Campaigners for women's safety are likely to argue that the proportion of cases involving violence against women shows how much remains to be done. Others will point out that the figures may also reflect improvements in the willingness of victims to come forward and of the force to act on their complaints.
Either way, the numbers present a challenge for Police Scotland at a time when public trust is central to its ability to operate. Women who report domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking need to be confident that the force will take them seriously, including when the accused wears a police uniform.
For now, 53 officers remain out of uniform while investigations continue, and the outcome of each case will determine whether they return to duty, face misconduct proceedings or leave the service altogether.
