Key corruption witness found dead

Officers say the inquiry has hit force morale

A police corruption inquiry has been thrown into doubt after a key witness was found dead.

Edward Finlay, who was jailed for five years following his arrest on drugs charges in 1996, alleged that detectives had stolen some of the money found on him when he was picked up.

The allegations formed part of the so-called West End Inquiry into corruption in the Lothian and Borders force.

The future of that investigation is now uncertain because of the death of Mr Finlay whose body was discovered in London two weeks ago. He died of a suspected drugs overdose.

Theft allegations

Mr Finlay became known to the police when he was arrested at Edinburgh's Waverley Station in 1996.

Detectives seized seven kilos of cannabis and about £7,000.

Mr Finlay was later jailed for five years, but he alleged that some of the money had been stolen by arresting officers.

These claims were subsequently investigated by the inquiry team, which was set up to examine claims about the dishonest handling of drugs by Lothian and Borders officers while attached to the Scottish Crime Squad.

An 80-volume report was completed six months ago and is still being considered by the procurator fiscal.

Evidence doubts

Mr Finlay was interviewed several times while in prison and it is understood that the evidence he gave played an important part in the inquiry.

However, there are question marks being raised over whether any of this evidence can be used following his death.

Police officers in Edinburgh believe that the Crown would find great difficulty in using any of it in court.

They say that the whole affair was "a mess" which had caused huge damage to morale in the force.