Michael Matheson told MSPs that the public could still have confidence in Police Scotland despite the current leadership crisis PA:Press AssociationScotland’s justice secretary has been accused of complacency after insisting the country’s troubled police force was still the “match of policing anywhere in the world”. Michael Matheson told MSPs that the public could still have confidence in Police Scotland, despite a leadership crisis that has left the force without a chief constable, an assistant chief constable and other senior officers. Phil Gormley, the chief constable, has been on “special leave” since September as claims of gross misconduct are investigated by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner. His assistant chief, Bernard Higgins, was suspended by watchdogs at the Scottish Police Authority last week after “a number of criminal and misconduct allegations”. Mr Higgins, who was the head of armed policing in Scotland, and Mr Gormley, both…

Source: The Times November 30, 2017 00:07 UTC