Police decline MSPs invite amid spy row

THREE senior police officers have declined an invitation from MSPs to provide evidence on Police Scotland's breach of data guidelines while attempting to reveal a journalist's source.

Three senior police officers have declined an invitation from MSPs to provide evidence. Picture: John Devlin

Detective Chief Superintendent Clark Cuzen, Detective Superintendent David Donaldson and Detective Superintendent Brenda Smith were among four officers summoned by the Scottish Parliament’s justice committee in December.

It followed a ruling by the Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office (Iocco) that Police Scotland contravened data guidelines while attempting to expose details of a journalist’s source.

The three senior officers have now written to the committee declining its invitation to attend at the current time.

Mr Cuzen, head of the Counter Corruption Unit, said he wished to “respectfully decline” the invitation until the Investigatory Powers Tribunal had finished looking at the case.

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