‘No end in sight’ three years into Tayside police drugs squad probe

A three-year probe into the conduct of Tayside police officers still has “no end in sight”, it has been claimed.

Police Scotland launched an investigation into Tayside Division’s drugs squad in 2012 costing £1 million over claims that over-zealous ‘“Sweeney-style’’ methods were used to obtain information from suspects.

That year The Courier revealed that 24 serving officers were questioned as part of Operation Teal, the long-running investigation into allegations of criminal behaviour by some members of the squad.

But it has emerged some officers have endured a “three-year nightmare” as residual parts of the investigation drag on.

The Scottish Police Federation, which represents the officers, has questioned the need for the investigation.

North area committee chairman David Hamilton said: “Operation Teal concluded that there was no criminality by any of the officers involved in Tayside drug squad operations.

“Police officers appreciate the need for proper investigations but understandably are questioning the proportionality, impact and cost of these enquiries, particularly when there is still no end in sight.”