Glasgow police officer made sectarian, sexual and racist remarks towards colleagues and Catholics

A police officer was told by a sheriff that he made “appalling” and “disgraceful” remarks towards Catholics.

Kyle Cruickshank, 32, embarked on a five-year campaign of racist and sectarian abuse towards colleagues while working from Glasgow’s Maryhill Police Office.

He was known to ask for colleagues’ surnames to see if they were Catholic sounding and made racist insults towards a constable of Asian descent.

Cruickshank further stated that Catholic potential victims of crime would “get the jail”.

The dad-of-one also made misogynistic remarks about female colleagues which led to an investigation.

Cruickshank pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to a charge of pursuing a racially aggravated course of conduct towards an officer.

He further admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner which was aggravated by religious prejudice.

Cruickshank – who has since left Police Scotland after six years’ service – also pled guilty to assaulting a female officer.

The charges span between March 2017 and April 2022.

Sheriff Diana McConnell ordered Cruickshank to do 225 hours of unpaid work and placed him under supervision for 18 months.

He was also tagged for 60 days keeping him indoors between 8pm and 5am.

The sheriff told Cruickshank that the community payback order is a “direct alternative” to a custodial sentence.

She said: “You used appalling, sectarian language and said you hated Catholics and made disgraceful sectarian remarks which you made in general conversation and not directed towards anyone.

“All the conduct took place while you were a serving police officer which is a significant aggravating factor.

“Your conduct was a gross breach of trust placed on you by Police Scotland and the general public.

“It is of extreme concern that your conduct took place over five years and caused alarm and distress to colleagues.”

Cruickshank also referred to a Jewish colleague in an abusive statement.

Colleagues would also avoid coming into the police office at certain times to avoid him.

Cruickshank also claimed he missed the “local boozer for some casual racism”.

One female officer was sprayed on the face with hand sanitizer by Cruickshank while in the police reporting and writing room.

Matters were investigated after she reported the circumstances to her supervisor.

Thomas McMurtrie, defending, told the court that his client respected the officers and held them in high regard.

The lawyer said: “The process has made him aware of the impact this has had.

“This has ashamed him for what he did – he has explained that he is disgusted and sick.

“He was completely ignorant to the impact his conduct had on those working around him and he accepts that the language and conduct was not appropriate.”