Operation Talla queries: FOI release

Information requested

1. Did the Home Office or UK Government issue guidance to Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Ministers or Police Scotland instructing that complaints or crime reports questioning COVID-19 policy (restrictions, vaccines, testing, public health data, fraud, misconduct) should not be recorded or investigated?

2. If yes:

• Who authorised such a directive?
• What statutory or legal authority was relied upon?
• Please provide the written record of this instruction.

3. If no:

• Why were frontline officers consistently stating that they “could not take” such complaints?
• Who made that operational decision in Scotland?
• Under which lawful authority were public reports dismissed?

4. Will Operation Talla documentation — including Gold/Silver command minutes, directives, and decision logs — now be released in full?

Response

In regard to question 1, the Home Office or UK Government did not issue guidance to Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Ministers, or Police Scotland instructing that complaints or crime reports questioning COVID-19 policy (restrictions, vaccines, testing, public health data, fraud, misconduct) should not be recorded or investigated. Justice is a devolved matter and as such,policing is a matter for the Scottish Government.

In regard to questions 3 & 4, the Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because they relate to operational policing matters and information. The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 stipulates that the Chief Constable is responsible for the policing of Scotland and is accountable to the Scottish Police Authority for this, rather than to Scottish Ministers directly. These arrangements are in place to ensure public confidence that the police act independently, free from unwarranted Ministerial interference. As such, this information is held by Police Scotland.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested in question 3 & 4.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.