"No evidence of criminality" after investigation into former Edinburgh council leader Cammy Day
The ex-council leader stepped back in December
Police say there was “no evidence of criminality” found in an investigation into the former leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, after we was accused of sending inappropriate messages to Ukrainian refugees.
Councillor Cammy Day stepped down from the Labour led local authority in December after he allegedly sent messages to refugees on a dating app, asking about their sexual preferences.
Four months after resigning, Mr Day said he was not interviewed by police and described the situation as a "co-ordinated political attack".
He said he has sought legal action, and attributed the allegations to SNP figures.
"No criminality has been established"
Police Scotland has since confirmed “no criminality has been established and no one has been arrested” as part of the investigation.
In a statement, Mr Day added: "While I knew in myself there was no case to answer, I am nonetheless relieved that the police investigation has reached the same conclusion and been closed without any action being taken.
"This has been the most difficult experience of my professional life and I'm grateful it's over.”
He added: “I was not contacted or interviewed by the police but many of my friends, family, and colleagues were questioned for hours about claims that were never put directly to me. I'm deeply upset that they had to go through that.
"I'm also hugely frustrated"
"I'm also hugely frustrated - as I know others will be too - that thousands of hours of police and council officers' time have been wasted investigating what would seem to be nothing more than a co-ordinated political attack designed to undermine the leadership of this city.”
The councillor finished: “With spurious claims about my landlord arrangements having also been shown to be completely without merit, my focus now is on getting back to supporting my constituents and working alongside the council leader and Labour colleagues to serve our residents and promote our great capital city."
Labour peer Lord Foulkes said: "I know that the last four months have been really difficult for Cammy awaiting the outcome of these investigations and I am pleased that, as expected, they have resulted in no action being taken.
"The personal and continuing attacks, which have been clearly politically motivated, have been disgraceful.
"Those responsible should now apologise.”
"I am extremely concerned"
He went on to call Mr Day a “great leader” and “impressive champion”, hoping he would return to representing his constituents.
Conservative group of councillors chairman, Councillor Jason Rust, said: "The defenestration of Councillor Day was damaging not only personally for Cammy, but for the council.
“I am extremely concerned about the reputation of our council and the selective leaking of information.
“If this was a political hit-job then serious questions now have to be asked.
"For local democracy to flourish we need the battles to be won on policy, in debate and at the ballot box, not a toxic atmosphere or campaign of smear stories, falsehoods and innuendo.”
"Campaign of smear stories"
Councillor Rust added: “Months of police and council officers time has been taken up at what cost? Having cleared his name in relation to the police inquiry and the baseless landlord registration allegations, there are clearly questions for others to answer."
Months of police and council officers time has been taken up at what cost? Having cleared his name in relation to the police inquiry and the baseless landlord registration allegations, there are clearly questions for others to answer."
Simita Kumar, the City of Edinburgh Council's SNP group leader, told the Sunday Times that Mr Day's claims were a "gross distortion" and offensive to complainants, including Ukrainian refugees who had come forward.
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