Police slammed after wrongly telling alleged sex abuse victim they’d lost evidence

POLICE have had their knuckles rapped for wrongly telling an alleged sex abuse victim they’d lost evidence about her case.

Officers at Police Scotland repeatedly told the woman and her representatives an electronic version of her statement about “historic” sex abuse had been “lost” and “gone missing”.

Now, a watchdog has published a damning verdict, saying the blunder may have shaken the alleged victim’s confidence in the force. It has also asked Police Scotland to issue a fresh explanation to the woman.

Force top brass investigated the mix-up last year after the woman complained. She initially made the allegations of suffering sex abuse in 2015.

But the internal police probe discovered officers were wrong to tell her they’d lost evidence.

Evidence had not disappeared and the information had been correctly stored.

The paperwork fiasco comes as Police Scotland probes historical sex abuse in football.

Last night, there were fears Police Scotland’s poor handling of this case could be replicated in the wider sex abuse probe.

Andy Lavery, of sexual abuse survivors’ group White Flowers Alba, said: “Police Scotland’s conduct in this case is an abject failing of basic policing.

“My heart goes out to the victim and her shameful experience. The excuses made by Police Scotland in response to this mix-up were abhorrent.”

The victim first contacted the force in 2015 with criminal allegations saying she had suffered “physical and emotional” abuse.

That prompted a “live” investigation into her claims that are currently going through the court system.

Officers also interviewed her about historical claims of sex abuse. These allegations have not resulted in any criminal proceedings.

Despite the force admitting the blunder to the woman it refused to uphold a complaint she raised about its handling.

She turned her complaint over to the independent watchdog body, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC), to look at. It said the force did not handle her complaint properly.

The body said: “It would appear no investigation was carried out to ascertain who provided the incorrect information, why it was thought the statements were lost and finally what effect the information had on the complainer and her confidence in Police Scotland.”

Scottish Conservative community safety spokesman Oliver Mundell said: “It sounds like this was a completely avoidable flashpoint. It’s clear those involved need to look again at the importance of dealing respectfully and sensitively with victims of such crimes.”

A spokesperson for the force said: “Police Scotland acknowledges the recommendations from PIRC, which are currently under consideration.”