Policeman racks up four years' full-pay suspension

The Strathclyde officer, who has not been named, is understood to have clocked up at least 100,000 in wages since he was sent home on full pay in 2005.

The officer is one of five individuals at the force who have been on suspension for more than a year while they await criminal proceedings and internal disciplinary hearings.

His case, described by senior officers as "unique", was highlighted as Strathclyde – along with other Scottish forces – moved to overhaul suspension policies that, in the past, have led to scores of officers being off work for long periods. As recently as the beginning of last year there were 40 Scottish officers serving suspensions.

Police insiders have admitted that several forces, fearful of any stain on their reputation, routinely sent officers home when they were accused of crimes or misconduct, regardless of whether they posed any real threat to the public or fellow officers. The cost to the taxpayer of suspended police officers across Scotland is understood to have topped 1 million a year.

Chief officers, however, are now moving to slash the number of officers off duty on suspension and to speed up proceedings against those men and women forced out of the workplace.

In Strathclyde, the force's newly appointed deputy chief constable, Neil Richardson, said talks were under way with the Crown Office to "expedite" actions against some officers on long-term suspensions.

Richardson took up his post last year, in time to see the number of officers suspended peak at what insiders admit was an unacceptable 20. The figure, however, has now dropped to 12.

The deputy chief constable has now taken personal control of his force's suspension list and is determined to make progress in driving down figures.

Richardson was unable to comment in detail on the man who has been at home for more than four years. However, the officer is understood to have developed health problems that have slowed down criminal and other proceedings against him.

Richardson said: "The reality is it is very much a unique case. I suspect we won't see another one like that."

Moves to overhaul suspension policy – to be finalised soon in Strathclyde – have already won the backing of the Police Federation.

Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken said: "This is a good move. The police, like everyone else, are entitled to quick justice."