The overtime bill for detectives investigating the Scottish National Party's finances has now exceeded £100,000, new figures reveal.
Soaring Costs of a Protracted Investigation
Exclusive data shows that overtime costs specifically for Operation Branchform have reached £100,408. This marks a significant increase from the £94,927 reported in May of last year. Overall expenditure by Police Scotland on the long-running fraud investigation has risen by more than £60,000 in just six months.
The force's total spending on salaries and overtime for the probe now stands at nearly £2.3 million. When combined with an additional £460,000 reportedly spent by the Crown Office, the publicly known total reaches £2.76 million. Authorities have cautioned that this figure could climb further once final calculations are complete.
A High-Profile Political Probe
Operation Branchform was launched in July 2021 to examine how more than £600,000 of party crowdfunding was used. It has since become one of the longest-running fraud investigations in the history of Police Scotland.
The probe has involved several high-profile figures from the SNP. Former party chief executive Peter Murrell, his estranged wife and former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and ex-party treasurer Colin Beattie were all subject to investigation. In March 2023, it was confirmed that Ms Sturgeon and Mr Beattie would not face charges.
However, Peter Murrell appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in private that same month, charged with embezzlement. He was released on bail after making no plea and is scheduled for a second hearing before the Holyrood election in May.
Political Reaction and Resource Strain
The escalating costs have drawn sharp criticism from political opponents. Scottish Tory finance spokesman Craig Hoy stated: ‘The soaring costs incurred by Police Scotland reflect the severity of this investigation. These figures show Scotland’s over-stretched officers are still having to spend huge amounts of police time on this probe into the SNP’s finances.’
He added, ‘At a time when the SNP’s cuts are crippling our justice system, the last thing they need is for this protracted investigation to continue to drag on.’
When questioned about the mounting expense of Branchform, Police Scotland declined to comment, citing live proceedings. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service stated that resources were being applied ‘in line with its significance’ and emphasised that prosecutorial decisions are made independently, based on evidence and the law.
The continued financial drain of Operation Branchform highlights the significant resource commitment required for major political fraud investigations and raises ongoing questions about the case's progression as key legal dates approach.
