Up to 50 Scottish police officers suspended over alleged crimes against women

The chief constable of Police Scotland has said up to 50 serving officers are currently suspended over allegations of violence against women and girls.

Jo Farrell said she expected more would face sanctions over their behaviour following a spate of former officers being convicted for sexual offences.

Farrell said a review into the handling of police officer Alan Greer – who was exposed as a serial rapist after taking his own life – was under way.

She added about 8,000 officers were still to be "re-vetted" for their roles after a change in regulations earlier this year.

A BBC disclosure investigation exposed Greer as a violent rapist who attacked and attempted to murder women over a 14-year period.

Further inquiries uncovered that Greer had passed vetting checks to join what was then Strathclyde Police in 2009, despite having two reports of criminal behaviour against women on his record.

Data published by Police Scotland via freedom of information request showed 63 members of staff were currently suspended due to ongoing criminal investigations.

Those include 45 constables, six sergeants and two inspectors, although the nature of each specific case is not known.

Farrell said that between 300 and 400 officers had now been revetted as part of new rules brought in following the murder of Sarah Everard by Met Police officer Wayne Couzens.

She said the rules would make it easier to "exit people" found to be unsuitable to serve in the force.

"It's only now during this year there has been a change in the vetting regime. So for the first time, if an officer fails their vetting, they can be exited from policing," she said.

"So that is a very recent change, and a welcome change from my point of view. Up until that point there were no opportunities to exit people from the organisation."

Farrell added: "My focus is on identifying where there is wrongdoing, criminality, particularly in relation to violence against women and girls and if that has been committed by our officers and our staff, that we identify it and we ensure that those people feel the full force of the law."