The investigation into the SNP’s finances has “moved beyond” the initial reports received, the outgoing chief constable of Police Scotland has said.
Sir Iain Livingstone also defended the time taken for the investigation.
In July 2021 the police confirmed they were investigating complaints made around donations to the SNP. This probe is known as Operation Branchform.
It followed allegations that £600,000 raised for campaigning towards Scottish independence was diverted elsewhere.
In the past several months, three figures in the party have been arrested in connection with this – former leader Nicola Sturgeon, her husband former chief executive Peter Murrell and MSP Colin Beattie, who stood down as treasurer.
All were released without charge pending further inquiries. When she returned to Holyrood in June, Ms Sturgeon said she was certain she had done nothing wrong.
Sir Iain is stepping down as Scotland’s top police officer this August after six years in the job. He will be replaced by Jo Farrell, currently in charge of Durham Constabulary.
Speaking to Radio 4’s Today programme, Sir Iain was asked to address questions over the length of the two-year-long investigation.
Sir Iain said that if the investigation had not taken place, he would have faced questions of dereliction of duty.
He was asked if the investigation had become “bigger” than the original inquiries.
He said: “It’s moved beyond what some of the initial reports were. That’s not uncommon in investigations such as this.”
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