London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Jul 13, 2025

Review ordered after tribunal finds ‘sexist culture’ in Scotland’s armed police

Review ordered after tribunal finds ‘sexist culture’ in Scotland’s armed police

Independent force will look into judgment supporting former officer Rhona Malone’s claim of victimisation
An independent review has been ordered after a tribunal found evidence of a “sexist culture” in Scotland’s armed policing.

The case was brought by former officer Rhona Malone against Police Scotland alleging sex discrimination and victimisation.

Her claim of victimisation succeeded, but the discrimination claim was dismissed. The tribunal heard that the force had a “horrific” workplace culture and was an “absolute boys’ club”.

Chief constable Iain Livingstone said an independent force would review the judgment over “legitimate concern”.

In an update to staff, he said: “The appalling murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer has brought an intense, critical spotlight on to policing in the UK and on to misogyny and violence against women and girls.

“The issues raised at a recent employment tribunal in relation to a former colleague have added to this scrutiny in Scotland.

“Misogyny, sexism and discrimination of any kind are deplorable. They should have no place in society and no place in policing. It is vital that, individually and as an organisation, we challenge our own and each other’s behaviours in relation to misogynistic attitudes and actions.”

Livingstone added: “We have a duty and an opportunity to lead a change which improves the experiences of all women, including our own officers and staff. This starts with enabling and supporting those who speak up, who have a right to be heard without fear of detriment or victimisation.”

The tribunal, which ended this week, heard evidence of an email which advised that two female firearms officers should not be deployed together when there were sufficient male staff on duty.

It found Malone was an “entirely credible and reliable witness”. However, evidence given by her former superior officer, Insp Keith Warhurst, was “contradictory, confusing and ultimately incredible”.

The judgment added: “He repeatedly failed to give a clear answer to questions put to him.” It accepted that there was evidence of a sexist culture in Malone’s armed response vehicles unit in the east of Scotland.

Malone told the Guardian this week that she had since been approached by many other female officers who had faced similar experiences. “The unconscious bias in Police Scotland is so deep that they don’t even realise. Misogynist banter is nurtured and no one steps in to say this is wrong. So that poisonous culture is just going to grow.”

The ruling comes as police forces in England and Wales face scrutiny after Wayne Couzens was jailed for a whole life-term after kidnapping, raping and murdering Sarah Everard in March.

On the day of his sentencing, former Metropolitan police chief superintendent Parm Sandhu said the force was “very sexist and misogynistic”.

She told BBC Radio 4’s World at One that she had been “vilified” after reporting an incident involving a male colleague.

“What happens is that male police officers will then close ranks and the fear that most women police officers have got is that when you are calling for help, you press that emergency button or your radio, they’re not going to turn up and you’re going to get kicked in in the street.

“So you have got to be very careful which battles you can fight and which ones you can actually win.”

An inquiry has been launched by the home secretary into “systematic failures” that allowed Couzens to be a police officer. He had reportedly been nicknamed “The Rapist” by colleagues and exposed himself twice.

However, it has been criticised for not being a statutory inquiry, which would have the legal power to compel witnesses to testify or disclose documents.

Police Scotland has apologised unreservedly to Malone and said it would address the issues “as a matter of urgency”.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
×