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| Senior Police Scotland officer suspended amid criminal conduct probe | Senior Police Scotland officer suspended amid criminal conduct probe |
| (2 days later) | |
| A senior officer from Police Scotland has been suspended amid an investigation into criminal conduct. | A senior officer from Police Scotland has been suspended amid an investigation into criminal conduct. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins was suspended with immediate effect by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) on Friday afternoon. | Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins was suspended with immediate effect by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) on Friday afternoon. |
| Three other officers have also been suspended and two have been placed on restricted duties. | Three other officers have also been suspended and two have been placed on restricted duties. |
| A spokesman for ACC Higgins said he "denies and rejects" any allegations of wrongdoing. | A spokesman for ACC Higgins said he "denies and rejects" any allegations of wrongdoing. |
| The independent police watchdog is investigating allegations of criminal conduct and gross misconduct. | The independent police watchdog is investigating allegations of criminal conduct and gross misconduct. |
| In a statement, Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone confirmed the suspension of ACC Higgins, who was responsible for operational support, custody and criminal justice. | In a statement, Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone confirmed the suspension of ACC Higgins, who was responsible for operational support, custody and criminal justice. |
| He said: "I can confirm that Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins was suspended today by the Scottish Police Authority. | He said: "I can confirm that Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins was suspended today by the Scottish Police Authority. |
| "In addition, three other officers have been suspended, and two others placed on restricted duties, by Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick. | "In addition, three other officers have been suspended, and two others placed on restricted duties, by Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick. |
| "This is in connection with an investigation by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc). | "This is in connection with an investigation by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc). |
| "At this time our focus must remain on continuing to meet the operational challenges that we face each day." | "At this time our focus must remain on continuing to meet the operational challenges that we face each day." |
| Anonymous allegations | Anonymous allegations |
| He added that Assistant Chief Constable Nelson Telfer would take responsibility for the operational support portfolio. | He added that Assistant Chief Constable Nelson Telfer would take responsibility for the operational support portfolio. |
| However a spokesman for ACC Higgins said he denied wrongdoing. | However a spokesman for ACC Higgins said he denied wrongdoing. |
| "He will fully cooperate with the investigation. He intends to resume his duties as soon as this matter has been resolved," he added. | "He will fully cooperate with the investigation. He intends to resume his duties as soon as this matter has been resolved," he added. |
| BBC Scotland understands the allegations are connected to a wider criminal investigation. | BBC Scotland understands the allegations are connected to a wider criminal investigation. |
| They are not connected to the separate Pirc investigations into allegations of misconduct against Chief Constable Phil Gormley who is currently on "special leave." | They are not connected to the separate Pirc investigations into allegations of misconduct against Chief Constable Phil Gormley who is currently on "special leave." |
| Nor are they connected to inquiries into allegations that officers in the former counter-corruption unit abused their position when attempting to find the source of a journalist's information. | Nor are they connected to inquiries into allegations that officers in the former counter-corruption unit abused their position when attempting to find the source of a journalist's information. |
| Who is Bernard Higgins? | |
| ACC Higgins joined Strathclyde Police in 1988 and served in uniform posts across Glasgow and Lanarkshire. | ACC Higgins joined Strathclyde Police in 1988 and served in uniform posts across Glasgow and Lanarkshire. |
| He became a superintendent in 2006 and was then promoted to detective chief superintendent and head of the public protection unit in 2010. | He became a superintendent in 2006 and was then promoted to detective chief superintendent and head of the public protection unit in 2010. |
| Later in 2010, he was made divisional commander in charge of Glasgow Central and West Division. | Later in 2010, he was made divisional commander in charge of Glasgow Central and West Division. |
| He was appointed Strathclyde Police Temporary Assistant Chief Constable (Territorial Policing) in March 2012. | He was appointed Strathclyde Police Temporary Assistant Chief Constable (Territorial Policing) in March 2012. |
| In January 2013, he became assistant chief constable of Police Scotland with responsibility for operational support before assuming responsibility for the wider justice and support portfolio. | In January 2013, he became assistant chief constable of Police Scotland with responsibility for operational support before assuming responsibility for the wider justice and support portfolio. |
| In his current role, which he was appointed to in September last year, he has responsibility for the operational support, custody and criminal justice divisions. | In his current role, which he was appointed to in September last year, he has responsibility for the operational support, custody and criminal justice divisions. |
| The decision to suspend Mr Higgins was taken by the SPA board after it was alerted to the criminal and misconduct allegations by the Pirc. | The decision to suspend Mr Higgins was taken by the SPA board after it was alerted to the criminal and misconduct allegations by the Pirc. |
| In a statement, the SPA said the suspension would be reviewed in four weeks or if there is a change in circumstances. | In a statement, the SPA said the suspension would be reviewed in four weeks or if there is a change in circumstances. |
| The Pirc said it initially referred the anonymous allegations to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, as it is responsible for the prosecution of crime. | The Pirc said it initially referred the anonymous allegations to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, as it is responsible for the prosecution of crime. |
| Misconduct investigation | Misconduct investigation |
| The Crown Office decided an independent investigation should be carried out by the Pirc and that is now under way. | The Crown Office decided an independent investigation should be carried out by the Pirc and that is now under way. |
| As the complaint also included allegations of misconduct by a senior police officer, the commissioner referred the matters to the SPA on 18 October. | As the complaint also included allegations of misconduct by a senior police officer, the commissioner referred the matters to the SPA on 18 October. |
| The SPA suspended Mr Higgins on Friday and referred allegations of gross misconduct to the Pirc | The SPA suspended Mr Higgins on Friday and referred allegations of gross misconduct to the Pirc |
| The commissioner is now carrying out an assessment to establish whether a misconduct investigation is required. | The commissioner is now carrying out an assessment to establish whether a misconduct investigation is required. |
| 'Get a grip' | 'Get a grip' |
| A spokesman for the commissioner said: "Following receipt of anonymous allegations of criminality by officers, including a senior officer, serving with Police Scotland, the Commissioner referred the allegations to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). | A spokesman for the commissioner said: "Following receipt of anonymous allegations of criminality by officers, including a senior officer, serving with Police Scotland, the Commissioner referred the allegations to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). |
| "This was to allow the COPFS to consider whether the criminal allegations should be investigated by the Commissioner. | "This was to allow the COPFS to consider whether the criminal allegations should be investigated by the Commissioner. |
| "The COPFS decided that an independent investigation should be carried out by the PIRC and this is now under way." | "The COPFS decided that an independent investigation should be carried out by the PIRC and this is now under way." |
| The Scottish government has issued a statement saying that as the matter was under investigation by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner it was unable to comment further. | The Scottish government has issued a statement saying that as the matter was under investigation by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner it was unable to comment further. |
| However, Liam Kerr, the justice spokesman for the Conservative Party, called for Scotland's justice secretary to come "out of the shadows" on the difficulties faced by Police Scotland. | However, Liam Kerr, the justice spokesman for the Conservative Party, called for Scotland's justice secretary to come "out of the shadows" on the difficulties faced by Police Scotland. |
| He told BBC Radio Scotland: "The conspicuous absences of the justice secretary - my view would be that he's got to step out of the shadows and get a grip on this because it keeps happening on his watch." | He told BBC Radio Scotland: "The conspicuous absences of the justice secretary - my view would be that he's got to step out of the shadows and get a grip on this because it keeps happening on his watch." |