Four Police Scotland officers exposed as rapists this year

Four Police Scotland officers have been exposed as rapists this year.

The national police force says it takes immediate action to investigate and listen to victims regardless of who the perpetrator is.

Figures released last month showed the number of rapes and attempted rapes reported in Scotland rose by almost one third in four years, to 3,240 for the year to June 2026.

Women’s organisations have said there is a “national emergency” of violence against women and girls.

On Friday, Campbell Petrie was the latest officer to be jailed for a catalogue of offences committed while serving as a police officer between 2006 and 2022.

Petrie raped a sleeping colleague at a flat in Glasgow and in a changing room at a leisure centre in Lanarkshire. He also raped another sleeping woman and throttled her after a party in Glasgow.

He was handed a 15-year sentence, with 12 years in custody and a three-year extended sentence.

Following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow, it emerged Petrie had first been arrested in 2009 over allegations of threatening behaviour towards one of his victims. The case was later dropped.

Petrie went on to be promoted to the rank of sergeant, and continued his offending.

Within just four months in 2026, it has emerged that four serving Police Scotland officers have been identified for committing crimes against women.

In July, it emerged PC Allan Greer took his own life after being revealed as a rapist who had tried to murder women.

It was later revealed Greer was allowed to join the force despite vetting staff being made aware he had previously been formally cautioned over inappropriate phone calls to a woman.

Greer’s campaign of sexual assault and attempted murder spanned a period of more than 14 years, according to a BBC Disclosure investigation.

The same month, serving police officer Cameron Ross was jailed for ten years after raping two women and abusing a third.

Ross was also found guilty of offences including domestic abuse, attempting to pervert the course of justice and threatening or abusive behaviour.

Earlier this week, Carmichael John Williamson was found guilty of raping a woman and teenage girl in Shetland, as well as having underage sex with the teen.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Williamson is a police constable with more than ten years’ service and is currently suspended.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in December.

It comes as figures obtained by STV News show nearly 70% of Police Scotland officers who are currently suspended while under criminal investigation are accused of offences relating to violence against women.

The allegations include domestic abuse, sexual offences and stalking. The figures show that, out of 53 suspended officers facing criminal investigation, 26 officers are accused of domestic abuse-related offences, nine are accused of sexual offences and two are accused of stalking.

The ranks of the officers suspended are 45 constables, six sergeants and two inspectors. All are suspended on full pay while investigations are carried out, and the longest-running investigation relates to a complaint made in 2020, with the suspension beginning in November 2020.

Assistant chief constable Tim Mairs, who leads on Major Crime and Public Protection, said: “Petrie committed a series of severely abusive, exploitative and violent crimes towards women.

“His offending is in stark contrast to the professionalism and commitment of the officers who investigated him and ultimately helped bring him to justice.

“His victims have displayed great courage in reporting these matters, and our thoughts are very much with them today. I hope this sentence brings them some closure and comfort.

“This investigation shows the public that when matters of this nature are reported to us – regardless of who the perpetrator is – that victims are listened to and supported as we take immediate action to identify and investigate those responsible.”