A senior police officer in Scotland is facing an employment tribunal after a civilian worker alleged he made an upsetting remark. Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs, who holds responsibility for upholding professionalism within Police Scotland, is the subject of the complaint.
Alleged Incident at Headquarters
The incident is said to have occurred last year at Tulliallan, the force's corporate headquarters in Fife. It reportedly took place in front of other people, with sources describing the remark as inappropriate or derisory and perceived as patronising.
Mr Speirs, who earns £230,580 annually, is alleged to have put his arm around the staff member afterwards. A source indicated he apologised for any offence caused, intending to comfort or reassure. However, the civilian worker found the behaviour upsetting and later went off sick, though they have since returned to work.
Tribunal Proceedings and Oversight Concerns
A preliminary tribunal hearing has been scheduled for June in Glasgow. The respondents listed are Mr Speirs and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), the civilian oversight body for Police Scotland.
The initial grievance was sent to the SPA, which assessed it and notified Police Scotland that it did not meet the threshold for further investigation. This has raised questions about the SPA's level of scrutiny, with one source suggesting it bounced the matter back to the force rather than conducting its own inquiries.
Interestingly, Mr Speirs' role includes handling complaints within the force as part of his professionalism brief. Normally, he would be the person to deal with such issues, but as the subject of the complaint, Chief Constable Jo Farrell, his line manager, was involved in resolving the situation.
Background and Response
Mr Speirs began his career with Strathclyde Police in 1988 and joined the executive team in 2017 as Assistant Chief Constable for professionalism and assurance. He was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable in March 2024, having served as temporary DCC since July 2023.
Public sector union Unison, which represents the civilian worker, did not respond to requests for comment. When asked for Mr Speirs' comments, a Police Scotland spokesman directed inquiries to the SPA. An SPA spokesman stated they do not comment on individual complaint and conduct matters.
The case highlights ongoing issues around professional conduct and oversight within Scottish policing, as a top officer faces legal scrutiny over alleged workplace behaviour.
