Police warned over crime 'filter'

Mr Martin hit out after investigating a number of complaints

The police watchdog has voiced fears that there could be a "potentially serious systemic failure" within the Lothian and Borders force.

Police Complaints Commissioner Jim Martin said the force had "filtered" the information it passed to the procurator fiscal.

Mr Martin said officers, up to the deputy chief constable, appeared to view this practice as acceptable.

He warned of a risk that prosecutors may not be given relevant information.

Reported accurately

Mr Martin hit out after investigating a number of complaints from a man about the way Lothian and Borders Police investigated two incidents.

The commissioner upheld the complaint that the incidents had not been reported accurately to the procurator fiscal.

He also upheld the man's complaint that all of the statements taken were not included or accurately reported.

Mr Martin added that "a number of officers, of varying ranks, within Lothian and Borders Police up to deputy chief constable, appeared to be of the view that it was acceptable to submit only evidence that could be proved and was corroborated".

"As a result there is a risk that the procurator fiscal was not in possession of all available, relevant information," he said.

The commissioner recommended that "Lothian and Borders Police satisfies itself that it is following the relevant guidelines relating to the reporting of information to the procurator fiscal".

A spokeswoman for the police force said: "Lothian and Borders Police notes the content of the commissioner's report and we will consider its findings, as well as any requirement for further investigation."