Latest news with #DavidKennedy
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Daily Record
Police Scotland pay out £3m to stop staff taking them to employment tribunals
Concerns have been expressed over the millions paid out to staff in secret employment tribunal settlements. Cash strapped Police Scotland has paid out almost £3million in compensation payments in secret deals to disgruntled staff after being taken to employment tribunals, the Daily Record can reveal. In each of the 49 cases employees, including police officers and civilian workers, signed gagging orders or non disclosure agreements (NDA's) to settle the cases and receive the compensation. The shock figures released by Police Scotland under Freedom of Information show an average of £57,200 was paid out per claim between 2020 and 2024. Details of the eye watering sums prompted a furious reaction yesterday. Scottish Labour Justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said 'Frontline policing is under immense pressure and all money must be spent in the best way possible. "The SNP must work with Police Scotland to ensure standards are being upheld at all times and address the underlying issues causing these claims, so that more funding can go to the frontline where it is badly needed.' The employment tribunal settlements released under Freedom of Information (FOI) show that £84,330 was paid out in 2020, £63,801 in 2021, £342,750 in 2022, £2,134.023 in 2023 and £170,000 last year. David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, added: "The majority of payments will be to our members. "The question I would have is what lessons are Police Scotland learning. "When we go to the force with cases early they don't fix them quick enough. "Which ends up in bigger claims, more payouts and increased costs." No figures have been made available for individual sums paid to claimants which police say would be a breach of confidence by the force. An NDA means that the person receiving payment is unable to discuss any details of the settlement, complaint, or time with the force. In the same FOI response Police Scotland said they had paid out compensation in more than 600 cases since 2021 - to both staff and members of the public - in a wide variety of actions raised against the force. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. In June the Daily Record revealed how a male firearms officer is suing Police Scotland for sex discrimination - at an employment tribunal - after he was suspended for taking a photo with influencer Tallia Storm while on duty in Edinburgh last year. Steve Jones, 35, claims he was unfairly suspended then demoted after a video of him and a colleague with Storm was shared on TikTok. In May the Daily Record also revealed that more than £18million in compensation was paid by Police Scotland between 2019 and 2024 following claims brought against the force by both staff and members of the public. The sums include £400,000 paid to two ex-administrators of Rangers FC David Whitehouse and Paul Clark after they were arrested during a failed fraud investigation. In May 2022, former firearms officer Rhona Malone, 43, was awarded £948,000 in damages by an employment tribunal which found she had been the victim of sexism and discrimination. Police Scotland also had to pay £118,000 towards her legal costs. More recently Police Scotland are reported to have agreed to pay more than £1million in compensation to members of Sheku Bayoh 's family. Sheku died in a street in Kirkcaldy in 2015 while being detained by police officers. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Compensation payments are dealt with on a case by case basis with a view to securing best value for the public purse." A Scottish Government spokesperson added: "It is for Police Scotland, with oversight from the Scottish Police Authority, to consider how to resolve employment disputes, including the use of confidentiality agreements. The Scottish Government expects all public bodies to conduct litigation with careful regard to the public purse."
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Financial consultant who misappropriated funds to repay money, court told
A financial consultant has given a number of undertakings to the High Court to take steps to repay money he misappropriated from two companies he was engaged to wind up. Accountant David Kennedy and David Kennedy Financial Consulting of David Kennedy Financial Consulting Ltd, Orwell Shopping Centre, Templeogue, Dublin, consented to several orders, including judgment against him personally in the sum of €588,301 in favour of the two companies owned by third parties. On Wednesday, the court was told Mr Kennedy was taking steps to wind up his business, as he had a number of other liquidations which he had to deal with beforehand. Mr Justice Brian Cregan said it was a matter of significant concern that in circumstances where Mr Kennedy admitted misappropriation and breach of duties that he could 'possibly continue for a day longer as a liquidator'. READ MORE Micheál D O'Connell SC, for the defendants, said the orders made preclude him from misappropriating funds for other 50 companies he was dealing and it was necessary that they be wound down in an orderly fashion. It is anticipated allowing him to continue in his role for the time being will enable him to improve the situation not only in relation to the clients in this case but to others who are affected. Jarlath Ryan SC, for the plaintiff companies, said his side was satisfied that was addressed by obligations in the part of the orders restraining him from only to paying €1,000 per business transaction apart from normal wages, all monitored by the liquidators put in to replace him. He also must 'come clean' and disclose all other assets, he said. The judge said he wanted the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to be notified and supplied with court papers so that it could tell the court whether it wished to be a notice party in the case. The other orders require that Mr Kennedy is only entitled to €15,000 in living expenses until the end of October and that he repay funds he had diverted from the plaintiff companies and restraining him from reducing assets in his consulting company below €588,301. He must also transfer €300,000 from a Bank of Ireland account he held to Micheál Leydon, the receiver who has now been appointed by the court to recover the funds. The court heard he had already transferred €200,000 from that account back to receivers who replaced in as liquidators of the plaintiff companies. He must deliver to those liquidators all books and records of those companies. The court heard gardaí were investigating him and had removed records and the Office of Corporate Enforcement had also been notified. The orders provide that proceedings against his wife, Danielle Colgan, who is also a defendant, can be adjourned generally on payment of €19,000 to the receiver. Mr O'Connell said she was the unknowing recipient of funds from her husband. Ms Colgan is the sole shareholder of David Kennedy Financial Consulting. Earlier this month, the court granted orders freezing assets of the defendants below €800,000, the sum which Mr Kennedy was engaged to capitalise on behalf of the two plaintiff companies. When the case returned, the court was told Mr Kennedy had 'put his hands up' in relation to the misappropriation and wished to be as much assistance as he can in recovering the money. Mr Justice Cregan adjourned the case to October but said in the meantime he would like to hear from the ACCA in relation to possibly making it a notice party.
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Scottish policing will be ‘seriously affected' by Trump visit, says police body
Mr Trump is expected to touch down in Scotland on Friday ahead of a four-day stay at his golf clubs in South Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire. The president – whose mother was born on the Isle of Lewis before emigrating to America – will meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during the visit, as well as Scottish First Minister John Swinney. The policing operation required to handle both the visit and any protests that may spring up as a result of it will be huge, with Police Scotland seeking officers from other areas of the UK for support. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland on Wednesday, David Kennedy, the general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation – the body which represents rank-and-file police officers – said: 'Anyone who says it won't affect it (policing in Scotland), I can't believe that's the case. The president will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during his visit to Scotland (Carl Court/PA) 'It will affect it. 'You may be waiting in the past for so many hours for a police officer to arrive, that could double now, you may be waiting for more time for them to arrive. 'Obviously, emergency calls will take priority, but it will affect communities in Scotland. 'We've been asking long and weary to have more police officers in our communities in Scotland and all this does is take them away from that at this time.' Asked if the quality of policing will be impacted by the visit, Mr Kennedy added: 'It will be seriously affected, it has to be. 'There's not enough police officers for it not to be affected.' Concerns have also been raised about the cost of the policing operation, with officers likely to cancel rest days to ensure adequate staffing. David Kennedy is the general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation (Andrew Milligan/PA) But speaking to the PA news agency on Tuesday, Mr Swinney said talks are ongoing between Police Scotland and the Scottish and UK governments on funding, asserting that policing in Scotland will not be put in a 'detrimental position' as a result. Mr Kennedy also reiterated calls from Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond for those seeking to protest to do so peacefully. 'All I would ask is for protesters to remember the police officers that are there to protect them, make sure that any protests are safe and are free from violence, that is all the police officers want. 'We are used to policing protests in this country, we do it very well, and I hope the protesters realise that police officers in Scotland are friendly and we just want people and the public to be safe.' Ms Bond said: 'A policing plan will be in place to maintain public safety, balance rights to peaceful protest and minimise disruption. 'The visit will require a significant police operation using local, national and specialist resources from across Police Scotland, supported by colleagues from other UK police forces as part of mutual aid arrangements. 'Officers make sacrifices every day to keep people safe, and their dedication and professionalism is the reason we manage to deliver significant operations.'
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Scottish policing will be ‘seriously affected' by Trump visit, says police body
Mr Trump is expected to touch down in Scotland on Friday ahead of a four-day stay at his golf clubs in South Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire. The president – whose mother was born on the Isle of Lewis before emigrating to America – will meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during the visit, as well as Scottish First Minister John Swinney. The policing operation required to handle both the visit and any protests that may spring up as a result of it will be huge, with Police Scotland seeking officers from other areas of the UK for support. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland on Wednesday, David Kennedy, the general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation – the body which represents rank-and-file police officers – said: 'Anyone who says it won't affect it (policing in Scotland), I can't believe that's the case. The president will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during his visit to Scotland (Carl Court/PA) 'It will affect it. 'You may be waiting in the past for so many hours for a police officer to arrive, that could double now, you may be waiting for more time for them to arrive. 'Obviously, emergency calls will take priority, but it will affect communities in Scotland. 'We've been asking long and weary to have more police officers in our communities in Scotland and all this does is take them away from that at this time.' Asked if the quality of policing will be impacted by the visit, Mr Kennedy added: 'It will be seriously affected, it has to be. 'There's not enough police officers for it not to be affected.' Concerns have also been raised about the cost of the policing operation, with officers likely to cancel rest days to ensure adequate staffing. David Kennedy is the general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation (Andrew Milligan/PA) But speaking to the PA news agency on Tuesday, Mr Swinney said talks are ongoing between Police Scotland and the Scottish and UK governments on funding, asserting that policing in Scotland will not be put in a 'detrimental position' as a result. Mr Kennedy also reiterated calls from Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond for those seeking to protest to do so peacefully. 'All I would ask is for protesters to remember the police officers that are there to protect them, make sure that any protests are safe and are free from violence, that is all the police officers want. 'We are used to policing protests in this country, we do it very well, and I hope the protesters realise that police officers in Scotland are friendly and we just want people and the public to be safe.' Ms Bond said: 'A policing plan will be in place to maintain public safety, balance rights to peaceful protest and minimise disruption. 'The visit will require a significant police operation using local, national and specialist resources from across Police Scotland, supported by colleagues from other UK police forces as part of mutual aid arrangements. 'Officers make sacrifices every day to keep people safe, and their dedication and professionalism is the reason we manage to deliver significant operations.'
Western Telegraph
6 days ago
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Scottish policing will be ‘seriously affected' by Trump visit, says police body
Mr Trump is expected to touch down in Scotland on Friday ahead of a four-day stay at his golf clubs in South Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire. The president – whose mother was born on the Isle of Lewis before emigrating to America – will meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during the visit, as well as Scottish First Minister John Swinney. The president will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during his visit to Scotland (Carl Court/PA) The policing operation required to handle both the visit and any protests that may spring up as a result of it will be huge, with Police Scotland seeking officers from other areas of the UK for support. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland on Wednesday, David Kennedy, the general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation – the body which represents rank-and-file police officers – said: 'Anyone who says it won't affect it (policing in Scotland), I can't believe that's the case. 'It will affect it. 'You may be waiting in the past for so many hours for a police officer to arrive, that could double now, you may be waiting for more time for them to arrive. 'Obviously, emergency calls will take priority, but it will affect communities in Scotland. 'We've been asking long and weary to have more police officers in our communities in Scotland and all this does is take them away from that at this time.' David Kennedy is the general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation (Andrew Milligan/PA) Asked if the quality of policing will be impacted by the visit, Mr Kennedy added: 'It will be seriously affected, it has to be. 'There's not enough police officers for it not to be affected.' Concerns have also been raised about the cost of the policing operation, with officers likely to cancel rest days to ensure adequate staffing. But speaking to the PA news agency on Tuesday, Mr Swinney said talks are ongoing between Police Scotland and the Scottish and UK governments on funding, asserting that policing in Scotland will not be put in a 'detrimental position' as a result. Mr Kennedy also reiterated calls from Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond for those seeking to protest to do so peacefully. 'All I would ask is for protesters to remember the police officers that are there to protect them, make sure that any protests are safe and are free from violence, that is all the police officers want. 'We are used to policing protests in this country, we do it very well, and I hope the protesters realise that police officers in Scotland are friendly and we just want people and the public to be safe.'
