Police Scotland dropped Alex Salmond perjury probe due to lack of proof

by Democrat reporter

Police Scotland dropped a perjury inquiry into a senior SNP Government civil servant after running into a dead end in the investigation. The force confirmed it had begun looking into claims James Hynd lied under oath during the Scottish Parliament’s Alex Salmond Inquiry in May 2024.

Mr Hynd gave evidence at the Holyrood Inquiry in 2020, with MSPs finding that the government investigation into Mr Salmond was “seriously flawed”. The former First Minister alleged there was a conspiracy among senior SNP figures, including Nicola Sturgeon, to imprison him, although she strongly denied this claim.

Mr Hynd was responsible for drawing up the Scottish Executive’s policy on the handling of complaints involving former and current ministers – the policy under which Mr Salmond was investigated. It is not known what part of the evidence was being looked at as potentially criminal.

Police have confirmed that the investigation came to an end on June 29 this year, and that no one was being charged with any crime. And now a freedom of information response has revealed exactly why no further action was taken against Mr Hynd.

It claimed the crime was “undetected” and that there were “no further lines of enquiry”. This is typically used when something has been reported, and all logical, practical investigative steps have been exhausted without identifying a suspect or any wrongdoing. At this stage, the investigation is typically filed or closed pending new evidence.

The document also revealed that the cops didn’t ask for advice or guidance from the Crown Office over whether Mr Hynd should be charged, but did keep prosecutors up-to-date with the progress of the case. The Scottish Government was also contacted to organise witness interviews and for other information.

Named Operation Broadcroft, the probe came to light in August 2024 during a hearing over Mr Salmond’s malfeasance case against the SNP Executive. His lawyer Gordon Dangerfield told the Court of Session that a Police Scotland probe into Mr Hynd was being headed by a senior detective.

He said that the investigation was looking into claims that a “very, very senior civil servant – Mr James Hynd – gave a false statement on oath at the inquiry”. He used this in an attempt to get the case paused until the probe ended, with the civil case expected to restart before the end of the year.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said about Operation Broadcroft: “Following a complaint in relation to evidence provided to a Scottish Parliament committee, an investigation was carried out, and no further action is being taken.”

There were doubts the malfeasance case would go ahead due to his estate being placed into sequestration – equivalent to bankruptcy – but it is still running, with Mr Salmond’s widow signing the rights of the case over to Mr McManus.