Exclusive: The Scottish Government’s secretive culture was blamed for £2.8m being spent on non-disclosure agreements by Police Scotland.
Police Scotland chief constable Jo Farrell(Image: PA)
The SNP’s “secret Scotland” has been blamed for Police Scotland spending a huge £2.8m on gagging orders in just five years – with this being paid out to employees so they can’t speak about their employment. The cash-strapped force has complained about not getting enough funding from the Scottish Government, meaning police numbers may have to be slashed again.
But according to a freedom of information request by the Scottish Daily Express, it has managed to find a lot of money for non-disclosure agreements, basically using taxpayer cash to stop whistleblowing. The sums of cash were used to settle claims including discrimination, unfair dismissal, and harassment.
The SNP Executive oversees the police force and have been caught up repeatedly in its own secrecy scandals, fighting the Scottish Information Commissioner in court repeatedly to block the release of documents. Most recently, it was to block files relating to whether Nicola Sturgeon breached the ministerial code.
Gagging orders were signed with both officers and civilian staff and relate to employment tribunals, with the recipient usually unable to speak out thanks to the compensation payout. The most high-profile case was in 2022 when the force paid out £940,000 to former firearms office Rhona Malone after a tribunal found she had also been discriminated against after complaining about a sexist email.
READ MORE: Scottish Greens want to blight more communities with drug consumption rooms despite Glasgow issuesREAD MORE: Scottish Greens co-leader suggests Scotland should have unlimited immigration
According to the request, a total of four NDAs were signed in 2021, costing £63,801, then 19 were settled in 2022 at a cost of £417,750. The highest cost came in 2023 when 14 gagging orders were noted, with a bill of £2.1m. In 2024, there were five at £182,500 and there were two last year, reaching £58,000.
Critics slated the huge amount spent on these deals, especially with the financial struggles of the force. Scottish Conservative candidate for Aberdeenshire East Douglas Lumsden told the Scottish Daily Express: “The eye-watering sum spent on gagging orders is yet another example of the SNP’s secret Scotland.
Douglas Lumsden
“Millions of pounds of taxpayers’ cash has been spent to stop police officers speaking out – this isn’t just a misuse of public cash, it’s a nefarious example of the SNP’s lack of transparency. The threat of the SNP getting a majority is very real, and if they do, they’ll continue to resist accountability – that’s why you need to vote Scottish Conservative on your peach ballot paper.”
Just last month, Police Scotland cut the number of special sick pay arrangements offered to officers due to financial worries. Under the current rules, Chief Constable Jo Farrell has the discretion to allow officers to continue to receive full or half pay to which they would not be entitled under the force’s absence regulations.
Police Scotland officers on patrol in Glasgow city-centre(Image: DAILY RECORD)
But in a letter to one officer, the service’s head of human resources said their sick pay would not be extended after the arrangement was tightened. The force sought a £105 million uplift, but received only £90 million.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Compensation payments are dealt with on a case-by-case basis with a view to securing best value for the public purse. The organisation has introduced learning processes in order to support the understanding of managers of how they can support their people and ensure that all opportunities are taken to resolve matters in advance of escalation.”
Never miss the latest top headlines from the Scottish Daily Express. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.