Latest news with #CrownOffice
Glasgow Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Cost of probe into SNP finances soars to £2.7 million
According to the latest figures released from Police Scotland the force has spent more than £2.2million on their four year Operation Branchform inquiry, which ended this Spring. Earlier this month it was revealed that the separate cost to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service - who will lead any future prosecution - have more than doubled from £206,000 in February to £460,000 this month. That brings the total spent so far by both police and prosecutors to £2.68 million with further extra costs expected. READ NEXT: Nicola Sturgeon to do high profile TV special ahead of memoir release READ NEXT: Glasgow restaurant announces 'closure' - here's exactly why Operation Branchform investigated allegations that £666,953 raised by the [[SNP]] since 2017, specifically to campaign for independence in a proposed second Scottish independence referendum, was spent unlawfully on other activities. The figures released under Freedom of Information (FOI) to the Daily Record also show that £2.1 million was to cover police officer salary costs. They also reveal a cost of £94,927 in police officer overtime, £2,962 in police staff overtime, £7,691 in transport costs including flights and £11,020 in supplies and services. The police investigation was launched in July 2021 following a number of complaints and concluded in March this year. During that 44 month period Nicola Sturgeon resigned as First Minister and [[SNP]] leader in February 2023 and was replaced by Humza Yousaf. Police officers searched the SNP's headquarters in April 2023 (Image: PA) In April that year, her husband and SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell was arrested. He was later charged by Police Scotland and appeared in court in March this year on one charge of embezzlement where he made no plea and was granted bail. No date has yet been given for his second court appearance. Earlier this month, the Scottish Legal Aid Board confirmed Murrell had been granted legal aid for his defence. As part of the Police Scotland investigation officers searched Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon's home near Glasgow and the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh. A motorhome, worth around £110,000, was subsequently seized from the home of Mr Murrell's mother in Fife by Branchform detectives. One of Scotland's leading KCs Joanna Cherry also called on prosecutors this month to make public the specific details of the allegations against Mr Murrell. Writing on X the former SNP MP said: "I can't understand the delay in indicting Peter Murrell. It's way past time the detail of the charges against him were in the public domain." During Operation Branchform Ms Sturgeon was also arrested and questioned, as was Colin Beattie, the former SNP treasurer. However the police investigations against both ended in March with no charges or further action against either. Murrell, who is now separated from Ms Sturgeon, stood down as SNP Chief Executive in 2023 following a row over party membership figures.
The Herald Scotland
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Cost of probe into SNP finances soars to £2.7 million
Earlier this month it was revealed that the separate cost to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service - who will lead any future prosecution - have more than doubled from £206,000 in February to £460,000 this month. That brings the total spent so far by both police and prosecutors to £2.68 million with further extra costs expected. READ MORE: [[Operation Branchform]] investigated allegations that £666,953 raised by the [[SNP]] since 2017, specifically to campaign for independence in a proposed second Scottish independence referendum, was spent unlawfully on other activities. The figures released under Freedom of Information (FOI) to the Daily Record also show that £2.1 million was to cover police officer salary costs. They also reveal a cost of £94,927 in police officer overtime, £2,962 in police staff overtime, £7,691 in transport costs including flights and £11,020 in supplies and services. The police investigation was launched in July 2021 following a number of complaints and concluded in March this year. During that 44 month period Nicola Sturgeon resigned as First Minister and [[SNP]] leader in February 2023 and was replaced by Humza Yousaf. Police officers searched the SNP's headquarters in April 2023 (Image: PA) In April that year, her husband and [[SNP]] Chief Executive Peter Murrell was arrested. He was later charged by Police Scotland and appeared in court in March this year on one charge of embezzlement where he made no plea and was granted bail. No date has yet been given for his second court appearance. Earlier this month, the Scottish Legal Aid Board confirmed Murrell had been granted legal aid for his defence. As part of the Police Scotland investigation officers searched Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon's home near Glasgow and the [[SNP]]'s headquarters in Edinburgh. A motorhome, worth around £110,000, was subsequently seized from the home of Mr Murrell's mother in Fife by Branchform detectives. One of Scotland's leading KCs Joanna Cherry also called on prosecutors this month to make public the specific details of the allegations against Mr Murrell. Writing on X the former SNP MP said: "I can't understand the delay in indicting Peter Murrell. It's way past time the detail of the charges against him were in the public domain." During Operation Branchform Ms Sturgeon was also arrested and questioned, as was Colin Beattie, the former SNP treasurer. However the police investigations against both ended in March with no charges or further action against either. Mr Murrell, who is now separated from Ms Sturgeon, stood down as SNP Chief Executive in 2023 following a row over party membership figures.
The National
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Cost of Operation Branchform climbs to £2.7 million
The latest figures released by Police Scotland show that expenditure on Operation Branchform is now more than £2.2m. This is despite the fact the probe came to an end four months ago. The sums, obtained by the Daily Record through a Freedom of Information request, include £2.1m in police officer salary costs, £94,927 in police officer overtime, £2962 in police staff overtime, £7691 in transport costs including flights and £11,020 in supplies and services. Earlier this month it was revealed that the separate cost to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service - who will lead any future prosecution - has more than doubled from £206,000 in February to £460,000 this month. READ MORE: John Swinney to call for 'immediate' constitutional convention on independence Operation Branchform was launched in July 2021 and investigated allegations that £666,953 raised by the SNP since 2017 for independence campaigning was spent unlawfully on other activities. In April 2023, just after Nicola Sturgeon resigned as first minister, her husband and former [[SNP]] chief executive Peter Murrell was arrested and charged by [[Police Scotland]]. In March Murrell appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on one charge of embezzlement where he made no plea and was granted bail. No date had been set for Murrell's next court appearance. Earlier this month it emerged Murrell had an application for solemn legal aid approved by the Scottish Legal Aid Board. During Operation Branchform, Sturgeon was also arrested and questioned, as was former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie, but the police investigations against both were dropped in March with no charges or further action against either. Murrell, who has split with Sturgeon, stood down as chief executive in March 2023 following a row over party membership figures. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Given there are live proceedings in this case, it would not be appropriate for us to comment." A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service added: "Resources are being applied to this investigation, which includes an ongoing prosecution, in line with its significance. "Prosecutors take decisions independently, free from political influence or external interference, relying on evidence and the law."
Daily Record
14 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Death of newborn baby at Aberdeen children's hospital to be probed
Michael Wilson was just over nine weeks old when he died at Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital on October 15, 2021. The death of a newborn baby boy at a hospital in Aberdeen is set to be probed in a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI). Michael Wilson was just over nine weeks old when he died at Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital on October 15, 2021. The inquiry will explore the circumstances surrounding the tot's death with particular focus on the understanding and appreciation of the risk, and complexities of his condition. It will share information between health boards and family members. The probe will also consider whether NHS Grampian 's reviews identified sufficient and appropriate measures to prevent the occurrence of any similar deaths taking place in the future. The purpose of an FAI includes determining the cause of death, the circumstances in which the deaths occurred, and to establish what, if any, reasonable precautions could have been taken, and could be implemented in the future, to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances. blame. A preliminary hearing is set for September 11 at Aberdeen Sheriff Court. Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on death investigations for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: 'The Lord Advocate considers that the death of Michael Wilson occurred in circumstances giving rise to serious public concern and as such a discretionary Fatal Accident Inquiry should be held. "The lodging of the First Notice enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of the Sheriff. Michael's family will continue to be kept informed of significant developments as court proceedings progress."
Daily Record
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Cost of criminal probe into SNP finances soars to £2.7 million
The cost of a police investigation into allegations of fraud in SNP finances combined with Crown Office spending is now almost £2.7 million. The combined cost resulting from the criminal investigation into SNP finances is now almost £2.7 million, the Daily Record can reveal. Latest figures released from cash strapped Police Scotland show that expenditure on their four year Operation Branchform investigation is now more than £2.2 million - even though it officially ended four months ago. The sums released under Freedom of Information (FOI) include £2.1 million in police officer salary costs, £94,927 in police officer overtime, £2,962 in police staff overtime, £7,691 in transport costs including flights and £11,020 in supplies and services. Earlier this month it was revealed that the separate cost to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service - who will lead any future prosecution - have more than doubled from £206,000 in February to £460,000 this month. That brings the total spent so far by both police and prosecutors to £2.68 million with further extra costs expected. Operation Branchform investigated allegations that £666,953 raised by the SNP since 2017, specifically to campaign for independence in a proposed second Scottish independence referendum, was spent unlawfully on other activities. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The police investigation was launched in July 2021 following a number of complaints and concluded in March this year. During that 44 month period Nicola Sturgeon resigned as First Minister and SNP leader in February 2023 and was replaced by Humza Yousaf. In April that year, her husband and SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell was arrested and charged by Police Scotland. As part of their investigation the police searched Murrell and Sturgeon's home in Glasgow and also searched and removed documentation from the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh. A motorhome, worth around £110,000, was subsequently seized from the home of Peter Murrell's mother in Fife by Branchform detectives. In March Murrell appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on one charge of embezzlement where he made no plea and was granted bail. No date had been set for Murrell's next court appearance. Earlier this month, the Scottish Legal Aid Board confirmed Murrell had been granted legal aid for his defence. One of Scotland's leading KCs Joanna Cherry also called on prosecutors this month to make public the specific details of the allegations against Murrell. Writing on X the former SNP MP said: "I can't understand the delay in indicting Peter Murrell. It's way past time the detail of the charges against him were in the public domain." During Operation Branchform Sturgeon was also arrested and questioned, as was Colin Beattie, the former SNP treasurer. However the police investigations against both were dropped in March with no charges or further action against either. Murrell, who is now separated from Sturgeon, stood down as Chief Executive in 2023 following a row over party membership figures. As of January 2025, the Branchform investigation team consisted of one detective chief inspector, one detective inspector, one detective sergeant and seven detective constables. The latest police FOI cost figures are up to May 31, this year. A Police Scotland spokesperson said:"Given there are live proceedings in this case, it would not be appropriate for us to comment." A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service added: "Resources are being applied to this investigation, which includes an ongoing prosecution, in line with its significance. "Prosecutors take decisions independently, free from political influence or external interference, relying on evidence and the law."
