A Dundee police officer who sent a racist email to someone outside the force has been dealt with by way of a direct measure.
Long-serving Constable Brian Melville (55) has not had to go to court and will not have a criminal conviction over the episode.
PC Melville was reported to the procurator fiscal earlier this year over an email he sent which was thought to contain a racist reference. The email was sent to a recipient outwith Tayside Police and that person made an official complaint about its content.
The force then reviewed its IT system and PC Melville was made the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal.
One source compared the content of the email to “an old Bernard Manning joke.”
PC Melville was not arrested or charged and was not suspended, allowing him to continue his day-to-day duties in the operational support section.
At the weekend the Crown Office confirmed that the matter had been dealt with by way of the recently introduced scheme of direct measures for less serious offences, where the accused person does not have to go to court and is not given a criminal conviction.
A spokeswoman said, “The area procurator fiscal at Tayside received a report in relation to a 55-year-old man in connection with an alleged incident on March 16, 2010. After full and careful consideration of all the facts and circumstances, Crown Counsel instructed that the case be dealt with by a direct measure. The case is now closed.”
A direct measure disposal can be a warning, placement on a social work diversion programme, a fiscal fine of up to £300 or a compensation order of up to £5000.