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Police officers in Scotland are investigating sex offence allegations against dozens of their own colleagues, the Record can reveal.

Serving cops are at the centre of 36 “live investigations” for alleged sexual crimes committed both on and off duty, figures revealed under freedom of information laws show.

Police Scotland’s professional standards department launched investigations relating to sex offences against 86 officers between April 2016 and March this year.

Out of these cases, 36 are ongoing inquiries – while 16 out of the 50 other officers were charged.

(Image: PA)

Eleven of the officers had allegations made against them by colleagues and 74 by members of the public. One officer was accused by both.

The highest number of complaints – 15 – were reported in the Greater Glasgow division of the force. There were 10 in the Highlands and Islands, and eight each in Edinburgh and Fife.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “We take every report about sexual offending seriously and incidents reported to us will be thoroughly

investigated no matter who is involved.

“The vast majority of our officers and staff conduct themselves to the high standards we and the public expect. However, when we do receive reports of criminality involving our employees, they’ll be rigorously investigated in the same way any other report would be.

(Image: Ian Georgeson)

“Where there is evidence of criminality, the circumstances will be reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service as well as to the professional standards department.”

Graeme Pearson, a former director general of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and ex-Labour MSP, said: “People expect they can trust a police officer. Even though we’re talking about a relatively small number of officers within a force of 17,000-plus, it will still be a concern to the public and needs to be responded to seriously.”

The revelations follow reports last week that Edinburgh’s top police officer is being investigated after an alleged incident of public indecency.

Colleagues allegedly found married Chief Superintendent Gareth Blair engaged in sexual activity with a woman, who isn’t his wife, at a park-and-ride facility in the city last Tuesday.

The claims were referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, which launched a probe. The 48-year-old could face suspension over the incident.