Police Scotland Suspends Officers, Costing Millions Annually
Millions of pounds are spent annually on the salaries of suspended Police Scotland officers, including those convicted of serious crimes.
Police Scotland is spending over £4 million annually on the salaries of suspended officers, according to a report from the Scottish Police Authority. In the first three months of 2026, more than £1 million was allocated to 77 suspended officers, comprising 58 constables, 14 sergeants, and five senior officers.
The expenditure includes officers who have been convicted of serious offenses but have not yet been dismissed from the force. One such case involves Carmichael John Williamson, a constable found guilty of raping two teenagers in Shetland. Despite his conviction at the High Court in Edinburgh, Williamson has remained suspended on full pay since January 2024 and continues to receive his £50,000 salary pending internal misconduct proceedings.
Another instance cited is that of former sergeant Campbell Petrie, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for attacks against two women, including two counts of rape, over a 17-year period. Petrie, from Glasgow, was suspended in December 2023 and remained on a salary of at least £54,000 per year for two years before his retirement.
PC Carmichael John Williamson was convicted of crimes against women in Shetland.
David Threadgold, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, expressed frustration with the lengthy suspension periods, stating that it does not benefit anyone and that the time taken for investigations, prosecutorial decisions, and court proceedings can be extensive. He suggested that reallocating the funds spent on these salaries to community policing could make a significant difference.
Police Scotland has experienced a loss of approximately 800 officers over the past decade. Chief Constable Jo Farrell has previously advocated for an additional £34 million to recruit at least 350 new officers. Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Stephen Kerr criticized the current regulations as inadequate and called for firm timescales and regular updates for all parties involved, especially in cases of long-term suspensions.
New misconduct regulations set to take effect next month will allow internal investigations to proceed even if an officer retires or resigns. Police officials stated that these changes will enable the handling of wrongdoing claims in a more robust, timely, and transparent manner.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman confirmed that regulations mandate full pay for suspended officers and that a review is conducted regularly to ensure this policy remains the most suitable option.