Latest news with #FOI
Glasgow Times
13 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
15 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.
Daily Record
21 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."
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
NHS health board admits 'no competence' in later abortion care
The revelation comes after an FOI request asking them to provide the number of staff trained up to the legal limit caused the health board to contradict itself amongst two teams. The FOI response from NHS GGC to The Herald in May showed there are currently 40 staff trained to provide the care in the health board up to the gestational legal limit. However, this month, their communications team said this was a "mistake". In the FOI, The Herald asked the board to reveal 'the number of staff members trained to provide abortion care up to the legal limit.' The [[Freedom of Information]] team responded: 'QEUH [Queen Elizabeth University Hospital] 20, RAH [Royal Alexandra Hospital] 20'. Asked for a comment on these figures, NHS GGC communications team told The Herald: 'There was a mistake with the FOI. "It said that 20 members of staff at the QEUH and the RAH could provide abortion care up to the legal limit. 'To clarify, as per our previous response, NHS GGC offers termination of pregnancy for all up to 20 weeks of gestation. 'We are aware discussions are ongoing at a national level with the Scottish Government about abortion care. We recommend reaching out to them for comment.' READ MORE: No qualified surgeons on panel to advise Scottish Government Minister criticised for backtracking on abortion care comments Labour MP calls for Scotland to decriminalise abortion When asked on several occasions to provide an amended figure, they later told The Herald: "We only carry out procedures up to 20 weeks. Consequently, the staff do not have the practical competence or experience required for cases beyond 20 weeks." However, asked for clarity on the staffing figures, a Freedom of Information Officer for the health board said the numbers provided in the FOI response were correct. A Freedom of Information Officer said: "In response to your query, we can confirm that the numbers provided relate to the total number of staff." Yet, on Wednesday this week, the FOI team re-iterated the statement from NHS GGC, stating there is no "practical competence or experience required for cases beyond 20 weeks'. In May this year, The Herald was informed that there are two fully qualified surgeons who can provide the care up to the legal limit. The admission and confusion comes as, across Scotland, one woman every four days is forced to travel down to England for an abortion they cannot be provided for in Scotland. Currently, no health board here is able to provide the care up to the legal limit, unless under exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances include when a woman has a foetal anomaly but they do not cover 'ground C' cases such as 'social reasons' which can also include rape victims. NHS GGC has said their pregnancy termination services are delivered "in line with the national position" and the care they provide "in all cases" is "informed by clinical need." The Herald understands 65 women were sent to England by the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board in the last 5 years. In the same period, approximately 20 women are believed to have paid privately for the care and made the journey down south. Across Scotland, in 2024, there were 88 women from Scotland treated by the charity British Pregnancy Advisory Service at abortion clinics in England, up from 67 the year before. The Scottish Government's 2021 Women's Health Plan had an aim that 'all women will have a choice about how and where they access abortion care'. During their conference in 2022, the SNP committed to ensuring abortion services are available up to the legal limit of 24 weeks for all patients. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service has called on the Scottish Government to establish a national facility to provide the care. Ministers have set up a Task and Finish Group to ensure "equitable access" to abortion services up to the legal gestational limit within Scotland, "as soon as possible." Public Health Minister Jenni Minto has said she has written to the chair of the group urging them to report back within six months and provide 'an expert view' on establishing a later stage abortion service in Scotland. Jenni Minto (Image: Scottish Government) The Scottish Government has also committed to pay for training for any clinician who wishes to provide later stage abortions. Public Health Minister Ms Minto said: 'I empathise with all women who must travel to access abortion services. Together with NHS Boards and other key partners we are working to support women and establish equitable access to abortion services up to the legal gestational limit, as soon as possible.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Police face scans lead to 56 arrests for major offences since introduction in Essex
ESSEX Police have made 56 arrests thanks to the use of facial recognition tech since it was first deployed two years ago, a freedom of information request has revealed. Since first implementing the tech in 2023, Essex Police have arrested 56 people for offences ranging from a dangerous dog offence to attempted murder, the FOI released on June 19 reveals. Facial recognition scanners have been deployed in major thoroughfares across Essex since its introduction such as Southend High Street, with the tech cross-referencing live scans of people's faces against a police watchlist of wanted offenders in real-time. The scanners are used by police to track and arrest wanted people – even if they provide false information about their identity. There have been a total of 56 arrests in Essex since the tech was first deployed, here is the list provided by Essex police with a breakdown of the offence by type: Burglary – 1 Court Warrants – 13 Drug Offences – 1 Attempted murder – 1 Stalking – 7 Theft – 10 Violence with injury – 14 Violence without injury - 8 Dangerous Dog -1 According to the Essex Police website, live facial recognition technology is used: 'To support Policing in the identification of persons wanted for priority offences, to support law enforcement including the administration of justice (through arrest of persons wanted on warrant or unlawfully at large/ recall to prison), and to ensure and promote the safeguarding of children and vulnerable persons at risk.'
