Police chief asked for publication of highly critical report into misconduct and discipline to be delayed ahead of election

By GRAHAM GRANT, SCOTTISH HOME AFFAIRS EDITOR Published: 00:13, 20 August 2026 | Updated: 00:13, 20 August 2026 Scotland's police chief asked for publication of a highly critical watchdog report into misconduct and discipline to be delayed ahead of the Holyrood election. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) Craig Naylor said he was ready to publish the findings of a major review into Police Scotland conduct and discipline in March. But Chief Constable Jo Farrell stepped in four days before to lobby for a delay. The Mail revealed in March that the report – which was finally published after polling day – had been withheld after Ms Farrell’s intervention, now confirmed by Mr Naylor’s annual report. Critics accused the force of undermining confidence in the independence of the scrutiny process. In his report, Mr Naylor said: ‘We were ready to publish the findings of our review in March 2026, but temporarily paused publication following requests from the Chief Constable of Police Scotland and the chief executive of the SPA [Chris Brown], who asked for time to consider any potential implications for proceedings that were ongoing.’ He added: ‘No changes were made to the review report during the period while publication was paused.’ It is understood the delay was requested because Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors had been accused of bullying and remains under investigation. Chief Constable Jo Farrell delayed the release of a report into misconduct and discipline The review examined the state, effectiveness and efficiency of officer and staff conduct and discipline arrangements within Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA). When the delay emerged earlier this year, the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents voiced concern that it risked undermining confidence in the transparency of the process. A policing source described the decision to delay as ‘scandalous’. Police Scotland said at the time that HMICS had ‘agreed to provide further time to consider the potential implications for ongoing matters’. The HMICS misconduct report, published in late May, said police chiefs were failing to reach ‘expected standards of professional behaviour’. It also revealed the force had failed to report all allegations of senior officer wrongdoing to the SPA. Officials at the SPA, the civilian oversight body for policing, ‘sought advice from other senior officers within Police Scotland about how to progress concerns involving their peers’. It resulted in 24 recommendations aimed at improving professional standards, organisational learning, leadership behaviour, wellbeing support and accountability.