A police officer in Scotland, Alan Greer, was hired by Strathclyde Police in 2009 despite having two previous reports of criminal behavior against women, including a formal police caution in one instance. Greer, who served for 17 years, later committed a series of attempted murders and serious sexual assaults, including raping a vulnerable woman shortly after meeting her while on duty. He also assaulted numerous sex workers he encountered during his career and took inappropriate photos of female colleagues.
Greer died by suicide in May, days after his home was raided by police. Authorities have identified 15 victims, but the actual number is feared to be higher. The case has drawn comparisons to that of Wayne Couzens, a UK police officer who murdered Sarah Everard in 2021.
Police Scotland stated that vetting processes have significantly improved since Greer's hiring. Assistant Chief Constable Lynn Ratcliff noted that current vetting standards are different and that Greer would not have passed today's checks. Officers now undergo annual integrity testing and routine re-vetting. A 2006 Strathclyde Police handbook indicated that individuals with cautions or convictions that might question their integrity should not be recruited.
However, a 2023 review led by Craig Naylor, chief inspector for HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, concluded that Greer should never have been allowed to join the police force. Naylor also suggested there were missed opportunities by Police Scotland to prevent Greer's recruitment. His review identified significant gaps in Police Scotland's vetting, including a failure to re-vet staff after the merger of Scottish police forces in 2013. Approximately 8,800 officers and staff, about a third of the workforce, had not been re-vetted at the time of the review.
A Police Scotland spokesman commented that the force has been transparent regarding information about Greer's case. The spokesman added that an investigation has not found evidence during his career that would have allowed his criminal behavior to be identified earlier. The recruitment and vetting process used by Strathclyde Police prior to Greer joining in 2009 will be part of an independent external review by the National Police Chiefs' Council. The force stated it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.