Police Boss Seeks Expenses Charity

The chairman of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) is to seek clarity'' from the Scottish Government after it emerged that he claimed expenses and allowances for attending the funerals of the police officers killed in the Clutha helicopter crash. Vic Emery said he willseek further clarity from the Scottish Government on what constitutes corporate and personal activities''. Pilot David Traill, who was attached to the Police Scotland air support unit, and police constables Tony Collins and Kirsty Nelis were killed when the Eurocopter EC 135 crashed on to the Clutha bar in Glasgow in November 2013. Seven other people died inside. The Sunday Post newspaper reported that Mr Emery and other board members had filed expenses and allowances worth hundreds of pounds after attending the funerals in Glasgow and Arran. The chairman of the police watchdog said he is donating the amount he has received to the Clutha Trust. The SPA said that the body and senior police officers made attending these events a priority for their professional time'', but that SPA members are non-executives and are remunerated at a day rate for the duties they take on, plus travel expenses incurred. The funeral of Cpt Traill was the first to be held at the University of Glasgow. Pc Collins was buried on the Isle of Arran and a funeral was held for Pc Nelis at St Andrew's Cathedral in Glasgow. Mr Emery said:I felt it important to ensure that the SPA was represented at each of these occasions, and we all judged that these were professional responsibilities as well as personal commitments." We will clearly reflect on these examples in considering our future commitments and will seek further clarity from the Scottish Government on what constitutes corporate and personal activities.'' The SPA was set up to maintain policing, promote principles and improvements and to hold the Chief Constable to account.