§ 49. Mr. Hirstasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will make a statement about the policy of charging police officers with alleged offences arising from the exercise of their duties.
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandThe considerations taken into account by the Crown are the same as apply in any other criminal case and no prosecution is commenced unless there is sufficient evidence in law available to support it.
In cases in which a member of the public complains that a police officer has committed a criminal offence in the exercise of his duties the policy is that no prosecution is undertaken without the evidence being considered by the regional procurator fiscal, crown counsel and a law officer.