Police accused of cover-up on sexism probe

POLICE Scotland has refused to publish a report on sexism after a tribunal laid bare an ‘old boys’ club’ at the force.

Armed response officer Rhona Malone, 46, was awarded almost £1million in a victimisation case.

But Police Scotland, citing ‘privacy constraints’, has not released a report by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, which investigated the findings.

Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said it would be published in an ‘appropriate form’ at a later date, raising fears that it may appear in redacted form.

Scottish Tory community safety spokesman Russell Findlay said last night: ‘Mrs Malone’s own lawyer has already demanded its release so any undue secrecy and delays would suggest Police Scotland has something to hide.

‘This saga exposes the SNP’s rotten police complaints system and deeply worrying evidence of a boys’ club culture.’

Mrs Malone sued after her boss told her two female firearms officers should not be deployed together when there were ‘sufficient male staff on duty’.

The tribunal branded the firearms division as an ‘absolute boys’ club’.