Cost of criminal probe into SNP finances soars to £2.7 million

Daily Record

5 days ago

The cost of a police investigation into allegations of fraud in SNP finances combined with Crown Office spending is now almost £2.7 million.
The combined cost resulting from the criminal investigation into SNP finances is now almost £2.7 million, the Daily Record can reveal.
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Latest figures released from cash strapped Police Scotland show that expenditure on their four year Operation Branchform investigation is now more than £2.2 million - even though it officially ended four months ago.
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The sums released under Freedom of Information (FOI) include £2.1 million in police officer salary costs, £94,927 in police officer overtime, £2,962 in police staff overtime, £7,691 in transport costs including flights and £11,020 in supplies and services. Earlier this month it was revealed that the separate cost to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service - who will lead any future prosecution - have more than doubled from £206,000 in February to £460,000 this month.
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That brings the total spent so far by both police and prosecutors to £2.68 million with further extra costs expected. Operation Branchform investigated allegations that £666,953 raised by the SNP since 2017, specifically to campaign for independence in a proposed second Scottish independence referendum, was spent unlawfully on other activities.
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The police investigation was launched in July 2021 following a number of complaints and concluded in March this year. During that 44 month period Nicola Sturgeon resigned as First Minister and SNP leader in February 2023 and was replaced by Humza Yousaf.
In April that year, her husband and SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell was arrested and charged by Police Scotland.
As part of their investigation the police searched Murrell and Sturgeon's home in Glasgow and also searched and removed documentation from the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh. A motorhome, worth around £110,000, was subsequently seized from the home of Peter Murrell's mother in Fife by Branchform detectives.
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In March Murrell appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on one charge of embezzlement where he made no plea and was granted bail. No date had been set for Murrell's next court appearance. Earlier this month, the Scottish Legal Aid Board confirmed Murrell had been granted legal aid for his defence.
One of Scotland's leading KCs Joanna Cherry also called on prosecutors this month to make public the specific details of the allegations against Murrell. Writing on X the former SNP MP said: "I can't understand the delay in indicting Peter Murrell. It's way past time the detail of the charges against him were in the public domain."
During Operation Branchform Sturgeon was also arrested and questioned, as was Colin Beattie, the former SNP treasurer. However the police investigations against both were dropped in March with no charges or further action against either. Murrell, who is now separated from Sturgeon, stood down as Chief Executive in 2023 following a row over party membership figures.
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As of January 2025, the Branchform investigation team consisted of one detective chief inspector, one detective inspector, one detective sergeant and seven detective constables. The latest police FOI cost figures are up to May 31, this year. A Police Scotland spokesperson said:"Given there are live proceedings in this case, it would not be appropriate for us to comment."
A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service added: "Resources are being applied to this investigation, which includes an ongoing prosecution, in line with its significance.
"Prosecutors take decisions independently, free from political influence or external interference, relying on evidence and the law."