FM 'Must Come Clean' Over Spying Accusations

Scottish Labour is calling for transparency from Holyrood over accusations Police Scotland's been spying on journalists.

Yesterday's Sunday Herald reported that Police Scotland is one of two forces referred to in a report by the Interception of Communications Commissioner Office, which notes the monitoring of communication between journalists and their sources.

The police are not commenting on the matter, while the Scottish Government say obtaining communication data is reserved to Westminster.

In a letter to the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Labour's Justice Spokesperson Hugh Henry said people in Scotland "deserve urgent answers" on whether she is aware if Police Scotland are one of the accused forces, if she authourised the surveillance, or if she discussed spying with Police Scotland.

Mr Henry told Kingdom FM News the Scottish Government needs to come clean if they knew about the issue:

Police Scotland says it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage, while the Scottish Government says obtaining communications data is a matter reserved to the UK Parliament and the IOCCO.