(Image: Police Scotland)
Police Scotland have been told to publish a timeline for the re-vetting of officers, after the latest conviction for sexual assault.
Campbell Petrie, who was a serving police sergeant when he committed his crimes, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Friday for nine charges of physical and sexual abuse between 2006 and 2022.
Earlier this week Carmichael John Williamson, an officer from Shetland, was found guilty of rape, Cameron Ross received 10 years for raping two women on Lewis, while PC Alan Greer stood accused of abusing at least 15 women before he died by suicide ealier this year.
Read More:
- 'Up to 50' Police Scotland officers suspended for abusing women
- Rapist police officer Campbell Petrie jailed for 12 years
- Alan Greer passed police vetting despite history of abuse
Greer had passed vetting to join Police Scotland, despite a record of criminal behaviour against women.
There are currently 45 police officers in Scotland suspended over allegations of violence against women and girls.
More than 8,000 officers are still to be re-vetted following new rules brought in after the murder of Sarah Everard by police officer Wayne Couzens, and Police Scotland has been urged to publish a timeline for completing that process.
Rape Crisis Scotland external affairs manager Nicola Love told the Scotsman: "These recent incidents have raised serious questions about the standard of police vetting and the extent of work still needed to re-vet around 8000 officers – it is absolutely crucial that we see a timeline for completing that process.
“We’ve also heard from figures from within the police about how additional checks, such as home visits or psychometric testing, could potentially reduce offending from within the force. Given the number of officers being investigated over violence against women and girls, it is right that we consider practical ways to prevent perpetrators from joining the police in the first place.
“Delays in the criminal justice process are incredibly distressing for survivors, however they also significantly undermine public confidence in the justice process. Campbell Petrie was ultimately allowed to retire from the police on his own terms because it took so long for his trial to begin. We need to get to a place where it does not take three years to convict a rapist in Scotland.”