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Nicola Sturgeon has written to the Holyrood’s presiding officer, Ken Macintosh, asking him to consider a cross-party meeting to review its anti-harassment processes and to reassure staff there is a zero tolerance approach to sexual misconduct.

Sturgeon’s letter follows reports in the Record on Monday that at least three unnamed male MSPs are notorious amongst female MSPs and staff for their “creepy” behaviour. The paper quoted one woman MSP saying: “It is rife. And it isn’t just between staff and their employees – it is male MSPs towards younger female MSPs. And it cuts across party divides.”

Aamer Anwar, a prominent civil rights lawyer, told BBC Radio Scotland on Monday that male MSPs were guilty of “abject silence” because they knew of such incidents but had covered them up. He said victims had reported to him a “catalogue of abuse” ranging from cyber-stalking to physical assault.

No specific incidents or names of alleged perpetrators have yet come to light, but Sturgeon said she felt “deep concern” about the reports. In her letter to Macintosh, she added:

It is vital to ensure that robust procedures are in place so that individuals who raise concerns have confidence that they will be fully investigated in an appropriate manner. Indeed, we should expect a similar standard of protection to exist in every place of work across Scotland.

The Guardian contacted all five Holyrood parties on Monday to ask them whether they had received or investigated any complaints of sexual misconduct against one of their MSPs or staff members.

The four opposition parties, the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour, the Scottish Greens and Scottish Lib Dems, all said they had not had any allegations or complaints made to them, nor investigated any cases against their MSPs or staff.

The Scottish National party did not answer that question directly, despite follow up requests to do so, stating only:

The SNP condemns all forms of sexual harassment or abuse in any workplace. It is not acceptable and we have a zero tolerance approach to this. If anyone has any complaints to make they should contact the police, parliamentary authorities or their party.