A POLICE superintendent is being investigated for not wearing shoes in his office.
The inquiry into the unnamed officer – who earns up to £75k a year – has raised concerns about “proportionality” of internal investigation in Police Scotland.
The officer is understood to be facing other, more serious, allegations but the the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS) confirmed that failing to wear shoes in his office was among them.
The officer is understood to be suspended on full pay while the investigation is carried out.
ASPS President Niven Rennie said investigations into officers’ conduct should be “thorough” but added that he was frustrated by “ludicrous allegations”.
He said: “We have a colleague at present who is facing some serious allegations.
“Amongst these is an allegation of ‘not wearing shoes in the office thus bringing the force into disrepute’.
“There is a need for proportionality no matter where on the service one finds oneself.
“It is becoming apparent that there is a greater willingness to investigate senior officers when some of the allegations being made against them should be dismissed at the outset.
“It is also evident that some of these inquiries are taking far too long to conclude which impacts on their confidence and their health.”
Other controversial internal investigations include on into an assistant Chief Constable which found he had not been wearing a hat while on duty.
John Mauger – of the former Central Scotland Police – was on gardening leave for two years after an investigation in which he was cleared of a series of other allegations.
The £115,000-a-year senior officer eventually returned to work in the new single force in July 2014.
Earlier this month a five and a half year investigation into two constables, Amanda Daly and Andrew Reid, collapsed at Glasgow Sheriff Court with a sheriff ruling they had no case to answer.
Superintendent John McKenzie of Police Scotland’s Professional Standards said: “It is not appropriate to make comment on individual cases. Police Scotland has robust procedures in place to deal with complaints in line with the Police and Fire Reform( Scotland) Act 2012.
“In addition complaints which may amount to misconduct are investigated under the terms of the relevant conduct regulations.
“Police Scotland takes seriously all complaints made by the public and investigates them to ensure learning is achieved as well as examining the service provided.”
SNP and Labour MSPs have already called for an inquiry into internal police investigations and the Scottish Parliament’s justice committee was to meet yesterday to discuss complaints against the force.
MSPs calling for an inquiry into police internal investigations include the SNP’s Linda Fabiani and Labour’s Graeme Pearson.
Mr Pearson said he wanted to see the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) – the force’s civilian watchdog, take a bigger interest in such matters.
Last week he said: “I think the SPA should satisfy themselves that things are as they should be. They seem to be absent from the field on this issue.
“With some cases lasting years there is a danger of the system becoming a joke. Mr Mauger’s example is almost a joke already.”
Mr Pearson and Ms Fabiani are supported by solicitor Aamer Anwar who has accused Police Scotland of using Data Protection as an umbrella offence for officers.
Last week Mr Anwar said: “Within Police Scotland there is a perception that there is no accountability or transparency of the Counter Corruption Units.
“It is hardly surprising then that ordinary police officers feel that they are a ‘law unto themselves’.”
Mr Anwar wrote to the Chief Constable Stephen House outlining a series of complaints after his clients – constables Amanda Daly and Andrew Reid – were cleared of offences by Sheriff William Totten.
