Scottish Police Chief Fiona Taylor told the judge who presided over a public inquiry into Bayoh’s death in Kirkcaldy in May 2015 that officers had a legal and professional duty to tell the truth, regardless of the risk of self-incrimination. Lord Bracadale, the head of the investigation, had urged the Scottish Police and the Crown Bureau to ensure that officers were not prosecuted for any evidence given in their investigation, to ensure that they provided “complete, honest and unobtrusive” information. testimony. The officers involved, some of whom have since left the police force, have consistently denied any wrongdoing and have not been prosecuted or disciplined for any aspect of Bayoh’s arrest. In a letter to Brackadale released Monday, Taylor said it would undermine public confidence and threaten the force’s commitment to root out racist or discriminatory views if such a commitment were made. “[Giving] “Full and honest testimony is the basic expectation we have of each other as police officers and at least the public demands of us as their servants,” he said. “It is not a transaction and should never be conditional. “The chief warden has made it clear that racism or discrimination of any kind is deplorable and completely unacceptable. it must have no place in society and no place in policing. “ Ruth Charteris QC, the attorney general, also rejected Bracadale’s request. “Prosecutors must look at all cases on the basis of individual facts and circumstances and act in the public interest,” Charteris told Bracadale. “I have reviewed all the information at my disposal and I am not currently satisfied that it is in the public interest to make the commitments.” Charteris added that the Crown Bureau could consider immunity in a particular case if there was a clear risk that failure to do so would prevent Bracadale from fulfilling the terms of the investigation. But he added: “The crown has reserved the right to prosecute all matters related to this case.” Launched in May, the public inquiry was launched by then-Scottish Justice Minister Humza Yousaf in 2019 following intense public pressure and outcry from Bayoh’s family over the Crown Office’s decision not to prosecute the officers or police involved. Scotland. Bayoh, who was married and had two sons, died after being questioned by several police officers who responded to allegations that a black man had been seen in a troubled state holding a gun with blades. He was beaten with batons, CS spray and pepper spray and held on the sidewalk with wrist and leg bandages. No guns were found with the blades and there were allegations that Bayoh had taken drugs that morning, which could have contributed to his death. The terms of reference of the investigation include an instruction to determine the cause of death and whether it could have been avoided. if police restraint training was to blame. whether the actions of the police were “influenced by his actual or perceived race”; and the events following his death, including the provision of evidence. The Scottish Police Federation, which represents many of the officers who testified, has been called in to respond.
