Police Scotland has spent more than £2 million on the investigation into the Scottish National Party's finances, according to a freedom of information request. The bill for Operation Branchform stood at £2,173,089 as of April 30, the force confirmed.
The probe, launched in 2021, has involved several high-profile arrests. Peter Murrell, former SNP chief executive and ex-husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, has been charged with allegedly embezzling nearly £460,000 from the party. He is set to appear in court on Monday.
Police Scotland said £100,498 has been spent on overtime over the five-year investigation. The £2 million figure does not include pension contributions.
Scottish Labour's justice spokeswoman, Pauline McNeill, criticised the SNP, saying the probe adds to financial pressures on the police force. She urged the new Justice Secretary, Neil Gray, to heed warnings about a significant funding shortfall, and questioned whether the new Public Service Reform Secretary, Ivan McKee, would impose 'brutal cuts' on Police Scotland.
A Scottish Government spokesperson defended spending, stating they are providing record funding of over £1.7 billion for policing in 2026-27, a 5% increase. They noted Scotland has more officers per capita than England and Wales, and the Chief Constable confirmed the budget allows maintaining officer numbers at 16,500 for the coming year.
