Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been reported to the police for allegedly handling stolen goods. The report was filed by Stuart Campbell, a pro-independence blogger operating the Wings Over Scotland website, with Police Scotland.
This action follows the embezzlement conviction of Peter Murrell, Sturgeon's estranged husband, who was sentenced to over five years in prison. Murrell pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 in cash from the Scottish National Party (SNP) during his tenure as chief executive. Among the items purchased with the embezzled funds was a necklace depicting the Northern Lights, which Murrell bought from a Shetland jeweler, reportedly telling the owner he was "the man with the money."
In his complaint to the police, Campbell accuses Sturgeon of "reset," which under Scots law refers to the crime of possessing property knowingly obtained through theft, robbery, fraud, or embezzlement, with the intent to retain it.
Sturgeon, in a recent interview, addressed questions about whether SNP members should be reimbursed for the embezzled funds. She stated that a legal process would likely be initiated to recover the money from Peter Murrell. "I am not guilty of that embezzlement, so nothing that belongs to me should be part of that. Rightly, it should not be part of that," she said.
Despite Sturgeon's statements, pressure is mounting on the former SNP leader. Stephen Kerr, justice spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, questioned what Sturgeon knew and when, suggesting she should not be exempt from scrutiny due to her former position. "If this does result in her coming under questioning, then she must co-operate fully with police unlike her last infamous no-comment interview," Kerr stated.
Campbell's report to Police Scotland asserts that Sturgeon has been in possession of "numerous high-value items paid for by her husband Peter Murrell with money embezzled from the Scottish National Party." He cited an interview broadcast on May 31, 2026, where, he claims, Sturgeon publicly stated her refusal to surrender these items. Campbell alleges that Sturgeon is therefore committing, and intends to continue committing, the offense of reset. He emphasized that this is a serious matter that the police cannot ignore based on Sturgeon's status.
A Police Scotland spokesman confirmed, "We have received information and will respond in due course." Sturgeon's lawyer, Aamer Anwar, has been approached for comment.