Police investigation into SNP finances 'moved beyond the initial reports', according to Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone

Chief constable also defends the use of a police tent in Nicola Sturgeon’s garden as ‘proportionate’ and ‘necessary’

Police Scotland's Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone. Image: Andrew Milligan/Press Association.

The ongoing police investigation into the SNP’s finances has “moved beyond the initial reports”, Scotland’s outgoing chief constable has said.

For the past few months the SNP has been embroiled in the police investigation into £660,000 of party donations earmarked for independence campaigning.

The investigation, called Operation Branchform, has seen the former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, her husband Peter Murrell, and the party’s former treasurer Colin Beattie, all arrested.

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon and her husband, the SNP's former chief executive Peter Murrell. Image: Andy Buchanan/Getty Images.

All three were released without charge the same day as their arrest, and Ms Sturgeon maintains she is innocent of any wrongdoing.

During the investigation a number of items have been seized from Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell’s home. A £100,000 luxury motorhome was also taken from outside Mr Murrell’s mother’s house in Fife.

Now Sir Iain Livingstone, Police Scotland’s chief constable, says the investigation has moved beyond the initial complaint, which was made back in July 2021.

Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme, Sir Iain confirmed: “It has moved beyond what the initial reports were, and that is not uncommon in investigations like this.”

He was questioned on why the investigation is still ongoing two years after the first complaint was made, to which he said it was a “complex” investigation.

Sir Iain said: “Investigations around fraud, potential embezzlement, misuse of funds, take time to obtain the information from banks and institutions.

“You can’t do that automatically, you need judicial warrants.

“Time has been taken and in my judgement it is absolutely necessary for a prudent, thorough and proportionate investigation to be carried out.

“Had we not taken this investigation in the manner we have, I would rightly be accused of significant dereliction and neglect of duty.

“We have done the right thing by the rule of law and the interests of justice must prevail.”

During his interview on BBC Radio 4 he also defended Police Scotland putting up a tent in Ms Sturgeon’s garden while they searched the Glasgow home she shares with Mr Murrell.

Sir Iain said: “Absolutely it was proportionate given the circumstances of the search.

“The tent was there to protect the interests of justice and the individuals involved.

“It was a proportionate and necessary step.”

The Scottish Conservatives say the comments made by Sir Iain show the “seriousness” of the ongoing investigation.

Party Chairman Craig Hoy MSP said: “We have also seen that Police Scotland has been forced to spend over £800,000 investigating the SNP’s finances at a time when police budgets are already stretched to the limit.

“As the investigation expands, Nicola Sturgeon and other senior SNP figures - including Humza Yousaf - must continue to cooperate fully with it and be fully transparent at all times.

“The murkiness surrounding the SNP’s finances is not going away and the nationalists are distracted at the worst possible time.”

Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie MSP added: “It is right that Police Scotland is investigating every aspect of this case.

“From what was a single complaint, it now appears that there are multiple lines of inquiry and a can of worms has opened up.

“It is clear that Chief Constable Livingstone and his officers are working hard to shine a light on this unedifying period in Scottish politics.

“A culture of secrecy has clearly enveloped the SNP and the Scottish Government and the people of Scotland deserve answers.”

In response to this interview, First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “I just can’t comment on a live police investigation.

"Whatever Iain Livingstone has said as chief constable, it is of course a police matter.

“What we will do from the SNP’s perspective, as we have done from the very beginning, is cooperate fully with any police investigation.”