Sheku Bayoh Case: Fife MP Angry With Delay

Roger Mullin requested an urgent meeting with the Chief Constable of Police Scotland concerning the Sheku Bayoh case, and didn't get a reply for three weeks.

One of Fife's new MPs is angry at a delay in a response from the police, after he requested a meeting with Sir Stephen House over the Sheku Bayoh case. Roger Mullin represents Kirkcaldy where Sheku died in police custody in May.He wanted the Chief Constable of Police Scotland to discuss the way the family has been dealt with. The SNP member says it's unacceptable that it took three weeks for the force to decline his offer of a meeting.

He says he's now taking the matter to the Justice Secretary: “I find it unacceptable that Police Scotland have taken so long to respond to an urgent request from me for a meeting regarding their dealings with the Sheku Bayoh family. I was made aware in July through contact that a member of the Police Federation had made with a fellow MP that it would be unlikely that the Chief Constable would agree to a meeting.  That such comments were circulating well before I received the courtesy of a reply I think is an unfortunate way to conduct business.”

Mr Mullin went on: “I will be seeking a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice with a view to considering the implications of the way in which Police Scotland have been handling the correspondence with myself, and related matters.”

In a letter to the MP, Deputy Chief Constable Neil Richardson said: "I fully recognise that the family of Sheku Bayoh have questions which they wish to be answered, however, unfortunately Police Scotland are not at this stage in a position to do so. Whilst you aware from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have requested the PIRC investigate the circumstance of Mr Bayoh's arrest and death they have further expanded the parameters of their original instruction to include the police involvement with Mr Bayoh on 3rd May 2015.

"Unfortunately as this is still very much a live investigation directed by COPFS we are unable as this stage to facilitate your request. I recognise that this is a distressing time for the family, however we would not wish to cause them further upset by potentially jeopardising the outcome of the PIRC investigation."