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Scottish Police Federation boss Calum Steele launched a toxic Twitter tirade in defence of acting Chief Constable Iain Livingstone ... He smeared ex-ACC Angela Wilson by hinting at corruption and branding her a 'buffoon' ... Police Scotland have now upheld Wilson's complaint against Steele ... Here we take a look at the latest scandal to engulf the force and the murky legal games behind the scenes

BEFORE a newspaper publishes a story, attempts are usually made to speak to the various people or organisations involved in order to allow them to respond.

It should be a straightforward, common sense process — but not always.

Sometimes people chose to play games. Lawyers are unleashed.

Take the Two Cal(l)ums — Calum Steele and his legal adviser Callum Anderson.

For the past decade, former Highland bobby PC Steele has enjoyed perks and status as general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation (SPF).

PC Steele often shares the benefit of his wisdom on Twitter.

When the BBC quizzed Police Scotland’s acting Chief Constable Iain Livingstone about allegations of sexually assaulting a junior female colleague at a police college, eyebrows were raised.

Former ACC Angela Wilson publicly questioned whether Livingstone was a suitable person to lead the crisis-stricken national force despite being cleared of the alleged crime.

Steele turned to Twitter where he branded Wilson ‘one of the most incompetent imbeciles ever to have held rank in the police service’, ‘useless’ and a ‘buffoon’.

He also claimed that a corruption enquiry ‘extended’ to her.

Yet Livingstone — Steele fawned — is ‘one of the most talented, able, skilled and resilient police officers that exists anywhere in the planet’. Yes, the entire planet.

Steele’s outburst caused Wilson to complain to Police Scotland.

Just like the SPF’s 18,500 members (98 per cent of officers from constable up to chief inspector) Steele is subject to the Police Service of Scotland (Conduct) Regulations 2014.

Wilson’s complaint has now been upheld by Chief Inspector Jacqui Campbell who found that Steele’s tweets were ‘inappropriate and offensive’.

Campbell explicitly stated that Wilson was ‘never investigated for corruption’.

During the complaints investigation, from the SPF’s swanky offices in Glasgow’s Park district, Steele communicated with his police bosses through a lawyer.

It was claimed that Steele had been off duty when he launched his toxic Twitter tirade ... a curious claim as the police established that he was actually working.

Prior to my follow-up report about the upheld complaint being published, I emailed Steele inviting him to comment.

He instead turned to his namesake lawyer Callum Anderson of Levy & McRae, who came out all guns blazing.

Anderson said it would be false, inaccurate and even defamatory to say the complaint against Steele had been ‘upheld’.

Furthermore, he was unaware of any determination by the police that Steele had been on duty when the tweets were posted.

The brazen legal salvo from the Two Cal(l)ums was given appropriate consideration.

Many SPF members — who cannot select alternative union representation — expect their dear leader will receive little more than a slap on the wrists.

But there are rumblings in the ranks.

Is it appropriate for the general secretary to make false and abusive claims about anyone on Twitter?

And should he hide behind a lawyer to deploy smoke and mirrors, and groundless legal threats, in his defence and to stymie legitimate journalism?

Sadly, in today’s oppressive legal and commercial climate, such threats often work.

Once Levy & McRae’s fees have been settled, perhaps it’s time for Steele to fulfil his apparent desire to get back to doing some real policing.


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