Detectives investigating the SNP‘s finances will report their findings to prosecutors within “a matter of weeks”, according to Police Scotland’s chief constable. Jo Farrell declined to say whether anyone else will face charges alongside the party’s former chief executive Peter Murrell, who has been accused of embezzling SNP funds.
In a wide ranging interview, her first since taking the post last October, the chief constable said she wanted her officers to stop carrying out welfare checks on people with mental health issues. Ms Farrell also repeated an apology to a former police officer who was sexually assaulted by a colleague.
And she defended the force’s refusal to speak to the media when Scotland’s controversial hate crime legislation was introduced on 1 April. Operation Branchform, the investigation into the SNP’s funding and finances, was launched in July 2021.
Last April it led to the arrests of Mr Murrell and the party’s former treasurer Colin Beattie. And in June former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who is married to Mr Murrell, was also arrested.
All three were later released without charge. But last month Mr Murrell was charged in connection with the embezzlement of funds from the SNP.
Detectives based at the Scottish Crime Campus at Gartcosh have been working on the case in consultation with prosecutors from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). Officers are finalising what’s known as a standard prosecution report, detailing their findings and laying out their evidence.
Asked when the report will be sent to the Crown Office, the chief constable said: “I anticipate that will happen in a matter of weeks.” Lawyers at the Crown Office will then decide whether the case should go to court.
Source: BBC
In other news – Rishi Sunak to warn next few years ‘most dangerous’ for UK in major speech
Rishi Sunak will say the UK “stands at a crossroads” ahead of “some of the most dangerous years”, in a pre-election pitch to voters on Monday. And he will pledge to capitalise on opportunities presented by technologies such as artificial intelligence.
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