Police Scotland says up to 50 officers suspended over alleged violence against women
Chief Constable Jo Farrell said up to 50 serving Police Scotland officers are suspended over alleged violence against women and girls, with more likely as about 8,000 officers are re-vetted under new rules.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Police Scotland's chief constable, Jo Farrell, said up to 50 serving officers are currently suspended over allegations of violence against women and girls. BBC NewsN “The chief constable of Police Scotland has said up to 50 serving officers are currently suspended over allegations of violence against women and girls.” Read at BBC News ↗ GB NewsR “Police Scotland has confirmed that up to 50 of its serving officers have been suspended over alleged violence against women and girls.” Read at GB News ↗ Centre · 1Farrell said she expected more officers would face sanctions, following a spate of former officers being convicted of sexual offences. BBC NewsN “Jo Farrell said she expected more would face sanctions over their behaviour following a spate of former officers being convicted for sexual offences.” Read at BBC News ↗ Mixed · 2Data released by Police Scotland under freedom of information laws showed 63 members of staff suspended because of ongoing criminal investigations, including 45 constables, six sergeants and two inspectors; the nature of each case is not known. BBC NewsN “Data published by Police Scotland via freedom of information request showed 63 members of staff were currently suspended due to ongoing criminal investigations.” Read at BBC News ↗ GB NewsR “The total includes 45 constables, six sergeants and two inspectors, although details of the individual cases have not been disclosed.” Read at GB News ↗
Mixed · 2Farrell said between 300 and 400 officers have been re-vetted under new rules brought in after the murder of Sarah Everard by Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, and that about 8,000 officers still have to be re-vetted. BBC NewsN “She added about 8,000 officers were still to be "re-vetted" for their roles after a change in regulations earlier this year.” Read at BBC News ↗ GB NewsR “Chief Constable Farrell said between 300 and 400 officers had now undergone renewed vetting under tougher rules introduced following the murder of Sarah Everard by serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens.” Read at GB News ↗ Mixed · 2She said that for the first time this year an officer who fails vetting can be removed from policing, calling this a "very recent change, and a welcome change"; before that there was no way to "exit people from the organisation". BBC NewsN “"It's only now during this year there has been a change in the vetting regime. So for the first time, if an officer fails their vetting, they can be exited from policing," she said.” Read at BBC News ↗ GB NewsR “Up until that point there were no opportunities to exit people from the organisation.” Read at GB News ↗ Mixed · 2Farrell said her focus is on identifying wrongdoing and criminality, particularly violence against women and girls, so that those responsible "feel the full force of the law". BBC NewsN “that we identify it and we ensure that those people feel the full force of the law."” Read at BBC News ↗ GB NewsR “that we identify it and we ensure that those people feel the full force of the law.”” Read at GB News ↗
Centre · 1The BBC reported that a review into the force's handling of officer Alan Greer is under way. A BBC disclosure investigation exposed Greer as a serial rapist who attacked women over 14 years and who took his own life, and found he had passed vetting to join Strathclyde Police in 2009 despite two reports of criminal behaviour against women on his record. BBC NewsN “Farrell said a review into the handling of police officer Alan Greer – who was exposed as a serial rapist after taking his own life – was under way.”“Greer had passed vetting checks to join what was then Strathclyde Police in 2009, despite having two reports of criminal behaviour against women on his record.” Read at BBC News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- BBC leads with Farrell's expectation that more officers will be suspended and places it in the context of the Alan Greer case and the scale of re-vetting still to do.
- Emphasis
- Greer review, about 8,000 officers still to be re-vetted, earlier convictions of former officers.
- Leaves out or plays down
- None significant relative to the other article.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- GB News presents it as Police Scotland confirming the suspensions, focusing on the new rules to remove unsuitable officers and the FOI figures.
- Emphasis
- Farrell's quotes on vetting and the FOI suspension figures.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Alan Greer, the review into his case, the 8,000 officers still to be re-vetted, or Farrell's expectation of more suspensions.
What every side reports
- Up to 50 serving Police Scotland officers are suspended over alleged violence against women and girls, per Jo Farrell.
- FOI data shows 63 staff suspended amid criminal investigations: 45 constables, six sergeants, two inspectors.
- Between 300 and 400 officers have been re-vetted under rules introduced after the Sarah Everard murder.
- Officers failing vetting can now be exited from policing for the first time.
Jo Farrell person
Farrell welcomes the new vetting powers, says more officers are likely to be sanctioned, and says her focus is on identifying criminality against women and girls.
“My focus is on identifying where there is wrongdoing, criminality, particularly in relation to violence against women and girls” — BBC News
“So that is a very recent change, and a welcome change from my point of view.” — GB News
Police Scotland organisation
Police Scotland published FOI data showing 63 staff suspended during criminal investigations and is re-vetting officers under the new regime.
“Data published by Police Scotland via freedom of information request showed 63 members of staff were currently suspended due to ongoing criminal investigations.” — BBC News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Up to 50 Scottish police officers suspended over alleged crimes against women
Neutral Straight report anchored on Farrell's comments, adding Greer case context and the re-vetting backlog.
Right1 article
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GB NewsR ·
Police Scotland confirm up to 50 officers suspended over alleged crimes against women
Neutral Shorter report relaying Farrell's quotes and FOI figures, without the Greer context.
- 8 Oct 14:12 First BBC NewsN Up to 50 Scottish police officers suspended over alleged crimes against women
- 8 Oct 14:29 +17m GB NewsR Police Scotland confirm up to 50 officers suspended over alleged crimes against women
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.