Police pay out £431,000 in sex assault and bullying case

A former police officer who was sexually assaulted and complained about bullying and misogyny at a Moray station has accepted a payout from Police Scotland of £431,968.

Gemma MacRae, who left the force in 2021, had started legal action against Police Scotland but settled last month.

She told BBC News the last seven years had been devastating and called for complete reform of the police complaints system.

The force's deputy chief constable said misogyny, sexism and discrimination of any kind was utterly unacceptable and he would meet Gemma to apologise for her treatment.

In 2022, former police officer Scott Gallop was convicted of sexually assaulting Gemma MacRae. He was given a one-year community payback order and put on the sex offenders register for a year.

It was the only conviction to result from a 15-month Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) probe at Forres Police Station, following complaints of bullying and misogyny.

The Pirc report made allegations against seven police officers but the Crown Office determined there was insufficient evidence of criminality in relation to six of them.

Ms MacRae began an employment tribunal claim against Police Scotland alleging sex discrimination but following discussions earlier this year agreed to accept £431,968 for the loss of her career, injury and distress.

'Toxic masculinity'

Ms MacRae said: “It has been seven arduous years of torture, not only for myself but for my family.

“The toxic masculinity and power used against me was inexcusable and cruel. I am physically and mentally drained.

“Seven years is a long time to fight for justice against an organisation that is meant to represent it.”

Ms MacRae has not seen the Pirc report into allegations of bullying and misogyny at Forres Police Station.

She said part of the investigation had been “completely buried and hidden from the public.”

Ms MacRae added: “It is difficult for Pirc to justify their purpose when we are refused insight into what they do and their findings.

She described the police complaints system as broken and failing both honest officers and the public.

Former police officer Scott Gallop was convicted of sexually assaulting Gemma MacRae.

Stephen Smith, solicitor at Livingstone Brown, said: “We have acted for female officers of Police Scotland from Dumfries to Inverness who have said the same things.

"They have fallen foul of a male-dominated management hierarchy which has been able to use internal procedures to delay and avoid investigating what has happened to them.

“They have had to use the Employment Tribunal as a last resort, because their genuine attempts to have the actions of male colleagues investigated have not gone anywhere either.

“There’s no doubt this takes a toll on them, as it has on Gemma. They should not be left in this position in any organisation, let alone one that is created to protect people.”

'Relentless focus on our values'

Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: “Misogyny, sexism and discrimination of any kind is utterly unacceptable - it has no place in society and no place in policing. I will personally meet with Gemma and apologise for the way she was treated.

“Pirc conducted an independent Crown-directed investigation and Police Scotland fully assisted with those enquiries.

"Since this investigation, Police Scotland assessed a number of matters and - although conduct proceedings are private - appropriate action was taken to address behaviour that was not in line with our values of integrity, fairness, respect and upholding human rights.

“Police Scotland is meeting these challenges head-on through sustained, tangible and measurable activity, driving a relentless focus on our values and standards under our Policing Together programme," he added.

A spokesperson for Pirc said: “We were instructed by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) to investigate allegations of potential criminality against officers of Police Scotland.

“The matter was referred to us in December 2018 and, following our investigation, a detailed and comprehensive report of our findings was submitted to the COPFS in April 2020 for consideration.

"Our reports and findings are confidential due to legal reasons.”