Rapist police officer was first arrested and released 17 years ago

A former police sergeant, Campbell Petrie, who was convicted on multiple counts of sexual offences and violence against two women, was initially arrested 17 years ago after a complaint from one of his victims. Despite the early complaint in 2009 relating to threatening behaviour made by a woman he had met through his work, no charges were brought due to insufficient evidence. Petrie, now 50, continued in his role with Police Scotland until late 2023, when new allegations emerged, leading to his arrest and suspension in December of that year. He retired from the force two years after this suspension.

During his trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Petrie was found guilty of nine charges, including indecent assault, rape, and life-threatening assaults involving strangulation of both women. The offenses spanned from 2006 to 2022. One victim was assaulted while asleep and repeatedly between 2006 and 2009, while the other endured multiple rapes between 2011 and 2014. These findings have triggered strong reactions, particularly from organisations supporting survivors of sexual violence, who condemned the fact that Petrie was able to leave the police on his own terms rather than being dismissed for his actions.

This conviction marks the third time within a year that serving or former Police Scotland officers have been exposed as rapists. Earlier cases include Cameron Ross, who was sentenced to ten years for rape in July 2023, and Alan Greer, a police officer who was revealed posthumously to have committed violent rapes and attempted murder over a 15-year period. Investigations into Greer’s past uncovered that he had been allowed into Strathclyde Police despite prior reports of criminal behaviour against women. An independent inquiry by the National Police Chiefs Council is underway to determine whether his offenses could have been detected sooner.

Concerns about vetting procedures within Police Scotland have intensified following Petrie’s conviction. A historic data wash conducted across UK police forces in 2023, which re-examined officers’ backgrounds following high-profile cases, had not flagged any new information regarding Petrie. Deputy Chief Constable Bex Smith stated that Police Scotland’s checks went beyond the national database, reviewing intelligence systems and vulnerable persons databases. Despite these measures, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) has expressed serious reservations about the effectiveness and progress of vetting practices. Justice Secretary Neil Gray described Petrie’s crimes as “extremely disturbing” and emphasised ongoing legislative efforts to improve continuous vetting to maintain the integrity of police officers throughout their careers

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