Police probe includes another boss from armed response unit

ANOTHER senior officer in Police Scotland’s armed response unit is under investigation, we can reveal.

Chief Inspector Charles Armstrong was one of two officers put on restricted duties two weeks ago as four others, including assistant chief constable Bernie Higgins, were suspended.

The officers suspended include Superintendent Kirk Kinnell, who leads the armed response unit, and his Deputy Chief Inspector Bob Glass. Sergeant Cat Gibbons, 36, a former firearms officer who now works in a road unit in Irvine, Ayrshire, has also been suspended.

The probe has been sparked by allegations of criminal conduct and gross misconduct to the independent police watchdog Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC).

ACC Higgins, Superintendent Kinnell, CI Glass and Sgt Gibbons are subject to a string of allegations, said to include the unauthorised use of firearms at a police range, failure to properly investigate a domestic abuse complaint and using a police laptop at home.

They deny wrongdoing and sources have suggested many of the allegations are trivial, including the suggestion that ACC Higgins swore in the office.

Many of the allegations have been linked to James Miller, an ex of Sgt Gibbons. She is now in a relationship with CI Glass.

A gamekeeper, Miller had his firearms licence revoked, and sources say CI Armstrong took a statement in relation to that decision. They say he may also have been accused of using inappropriate language.

Armstrong was installed as the CI in 2013 and based in Glasgow. Since then he’s been moved to East Command in Edinburgh as CI, with Glass promoted into his previous role.

Police Scotland said it “was not appropriate to comment on individual officers”.

PIRC would not comment on what disciplinary action CI Armstrong faced.