Senior officers at Police Scotland were told to end their “culture of secrecy” last night after it emerged that two confidential reports had been commissioned into the performance of the force.
After several controversies, an inquiry was ordered by ministers, who commissioned a team of academics to review operations. The findings have not been given to MSPs.
Another report is being compiled into officers’ attitudes to their employer. It is based on a survey of officers carried out in May. Opposition politicians have demanded to see the results but have been told they cannot.
Graeme Pearson, Labour’s justice spokesman, said ministers and senior officers had to change their attitude.
“Police Scotland and the Scottish government need to drop the culture of secrecy when it comes to policing,” Mr Pearson, a former deputy chief constable of Strathclyde police, said. “The force is mired in controversy and attempts to rectify problems behind closed doors will achieve nothing.
Advertisement
“Police Scotland needs to be fully transparent if the public are to have any confidence at all in its operation.”
Sir Stephen House, the chief constable of Police Scotland, has come under pressure over a series of mistakes, failings and controversial policy decisions since the creation of the single force two years ago.
Police Scotland has been heavily criticised after it emerged that armed officers were sent out on routine patrols in the Highlands, and after figures were published showing that officers were using stop-and-search powers on young children.
Sir Stephen then had to apologise after the M9 car crash in which two people died. It had been reported to police but officers had failed to respond for three days.
This was compounded by reports yesterday that a senior officer could face a misconduct hearing over allegations that he wrongly claimed that staff appraisals had been done.
Advertisement
Last week Sir Stephen issued a statement with Vic Emery, the chairman of the Scottish Police Authority, in which they defended the force in the face of the sustained criticism it has received during the past few months.
Mr Pearson said: “If the chief constable and SNP justice minister, Michael Matheson, are serious about dealing with the problems in Scotland’s police service, it’s time that we have full disclosure of all reviews that are taking place, and publication of the staff survey we have been waiting for since June.”
The police survey was sent out to all the force’s 23,000 officers and staff. It was not compulsory but they were all given 20 minutes during their working day in which to answer the multiple-choice questions.
A Police Scotland spokesman said the survey had closed in June and that the results were being analysed by an independent organisation.
“As planned, the results will be published as soon as possible,” he said.
Advertisement
The inquiry commissioned by the Scottish government was given to the Scottish Institute for Policing Research which was asked to report back next spring with recommendations where “adjustments may need to be made”.
A spokesman for the Scottish government said: “The evaluation aims to evaluate if the policy aims of reform have been met.”
And he added: “We will be able to learn and share positive lessons in terms of what is working well, as well as identify any challenges to progress, allowing us to focus our efforts on areas where adjustments may need to be made.”
Alison McInnes, for the Liberal Democrats, said: “The SNP government must commit to making the findings of the secret police report public.
“Ministers did not tell parliament they were undertaking this work. To refuse to reveal its findings would be unacceptable to the public.”