ContributedOne of Iain Packer’s earliest victims has called for the police watchdog to be scrapped after saying she was repeatedly ignored and let down.
Magdalene Robertson, who was raped by the convicted murderer and serial rapist when she was just 14, called for the Police Investigation and Review Commissioner (PIRC) to be scrapped.
The now-48-year-old has threatened to take the organisation – which examines complaints against police – to court after feeling she has been left with no other option.
She accused Police Scotland and PIRC of a “cover-up” and said she was repeatedly ignored by the watchdog when she complained about the force’s handling of the probe.
Scottish ParliamentPIRC has said it issued a report to Ms Robertson which found that Police Scotland did not handle either of her complaints to a reasonable standard in June 2021 – before Packer went on trial.
The watchdog said that, as a result, it made recommendations to Police Scotland which were subsequently implemented by the force.
Ms Robertson said the current system is “corrupt” and accused PIRC and Police Scotland of “greasing each other’s hands”, adding that it was an “old boys’ network”.
Robertson was raped by Packer as a teen in 1990 but didn’t see justice until he was convicted in February 28 this year.
The criminal, from Glasgow, was jailed for life after being found guilty of 33 charges against 22 women including the murder of Emma Caldwell in 2005 and the rape of Ms Robertson in 1990.
Aamer Anwar & CompanyPolice Scotland has issued an apology to victims over its handling of the investigation.
Following Packer’s convictions, Ms Robertson went back to PIRC to ask the body to look again at her complaints into the force.
“I was ignored,” she told MSPs during an appearance at Holyrood Criminal Justice Committee. “I went back on March 6, I was ignored. I went back on March 8, I was ignored.
“We are hitting seven weeks and guess what? They still ignored it. We need somebody to make sure that PIRC does their job.
“Where have I to go? I’ve got nowhere to go. There is no governing body for PIRC.
“It’s mates and people who know each other who can grease each other’s hands and help their mates out.”
‘PIRC needs to be scrapped’
Ms Robertson said she would need to fund her own civil action against police and PIRC, adding, “that’s what I need to do if I want justice”.
She went on: “[PIRC] needs to be scrapped and set up again and not with the minds of those who caused the issues and problems again in the first place.
“You cannot create a new way forward working with those minds that created the issues in the first place.”
She accused police and PIRC of being part of an “old boys’ network” and said they had created the “perfect situation to protect themselves against the public”.
STV News
Scotland’s justice secretary announced in March that a public inquiry into the handling of the Emma Caldwell murder investigation will take place.
Angela Constance was visibly emotional when she confirmed during an urgent statement to Holyrood that a judge-led independent inquiry would begin immediately.
Emma was killed by serial rapist Iain Packer in 2005 – but while he was interviewed by police officers the month after her body was found in May that year, it was only last week he was convicted of her murder, along with a series of rapes and other offences.
Police Scotland has already apologised to the family and his other victims, saying they were “let down” by policing in 2005.
Chief constable Jo Farrell said she backed calls for a public inquiry which will look into the force’s failings during the case.
A spokesperson for the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner said: “A key part of PIRC’s remit is to review the way policing bodies in Scotland handle complaints made about them by members of the public.
“We received a request for a complaint handling review in respect of two complaints made by Ms Roberston regarding Police Scotland.
“In June 2021, we issued a report to Ms Robertson which found that Police Scotland did not handle either of her complaints to a reasonable standard.
“As a result, we made recommendations to Police Scotland which were subsequently implemented by Police Scotland.”
Police Scotland has been approached for comment.
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