Dozens of police officers investigated for sexual offences

Of the total, 16 officers have been charged and 36 officers are the subject of live investigations which have not yet concluded.

A Freedom of Information request made by the Evening Times shows 74 officers have faced allegations after reports were made by members of the public from April 2016 to March 31, 2019.

A further 11 officers were reported by colleagues and one officer was investigated after both staff and the public made complaints about sexual misconduct.

A number of officers investigated over the past three years work in the Specialist Crime Division or Criminal Justice but the figures were not supplied because it is less than five and could lead to the individuals being identified.

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The second highest figure was recorded in the Highlands and Islands, where 10 officers have faced allegations over sexual misconduct followed by Fife, where eight officers have faced inquiries.

The FoI request, which was submitted by the Evening Times on April 22, was published on the Police Scotland website for disclosure reasons last Wednesday.

Police Scotland has said it takes “every report about sexual offending seriously.”

A spokeswoman for the force said: “We take every report about sexual offending seriously and incidents reported to us will be thoroughly investigated, no matter who is involved.

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“The vast majority of our officers and staff conduct themselves to the high standards we and the public expect, however when we do receive reports of criminality involving our employees they will be rigorously investigated in the same way any other report would be.

“Where there is evidence of criminality, the circumstances will be reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service as well as to the professional standards department.”