Midlothian police suspensions: sex and abuse allegations, Edinburgh 2026

Key Points

• Freedom of information data shows officer suspensions in Police Scotland’s E and J divisions have risen every year from 2021 to 2025.
• Of 33 suspensions between early 2021 and August 2026, 14 (more than four in ten) involved alleged sexual misconduct or domestic abuse.
• Suspensions climbed from two in 2021 to 11 in 2025 across the two divisions, which cover Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Borders.
• Only two officers were dismissed in the same period, both in J division for gross misconduct in 2024 and 2025; many others resign or retire before dismissal, Police Scotland said.
• Alleged domestic violence, sexual misconduct and “inappropriate behaviour” each accounted for seven suspensions since 2021; other categories included violent crimes, data breaches and road traffic offences.
• The case of Midlothian officer David Brown, convicted of domestic abuse and suspended but still employed pending sentencing, was highlighted by Edinburgh Live and Police Scotland.

Edinburgh Police (Edinburgh Daily) August 04, 2026 – Allegations of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse are driving a sustained increase in police officer suspensions across Police Scotland’s E and J divisions, according to data obtained through freedom of information legislation and reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service and local titles including the Midlothian View and East Lothian Courier.

The figures reveal that suspensions in the two divisions have risen each year over the last five years, with 33 officers suspended between the start of 2021 and now, 14 of whom more than four in ten were alleged to have been involved in sexual misconduct or domestic abuse. In 2021, just two officers were suspended, while in 2025 that figure reached 11, marking a consistent upward trend, as reported by Joe Sullivan for the Local Democracy Reporting Service and carried by the Midlothian View.

How has the suspension trend changed year by year?

The annual breakdown shows a steady climb in suspensions across E division, which covers the City of uk/local/edinburgh-council/">Edinburgh Council, and J division, which covers East Lothian, West Lothian, Midlothian and the Borders. Together, the two divisions cover the territory of the former Lothian and Borders Police, which was merged into Police Scotland in 2014.

According to the data cited by the Midlothian View and East Lothian Courier, suspensions began at two in 2021 and reached 11 in 2025, with year-on-year increases throughout the period. The Local Democracy Reporting Service obtained the data via freedom of information requests, and the figures have been widely reported across regional outlets covering the Lothians and Borders.

What types of allegations are behind the suspensions?

Alleged domestic violence, sexual misconduct and “inappropriate behaviour” each accounted for seven of the suspensions recorded since the start of 2021, according to Police Scotland’s breakdown provided to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Alleged “crimes of violence” and “other criminality” made up four suspensions each, while alleged data protection violations accounted for three and alleged road traffic offences for one.

Police Scotland said that when there is a “reasonable inference” a crime may have been committed by an on-duty officer or staff member, a report is submitted to the Procurator Fiscal regardless of the balance of evidence, as quoted by the Midlothian View. The force added that any case where proceedings are not instructed will still be considered under a misconduct assessment, indicating that suspension does not automatically equate to criminal charges or dismissal.

How many officers were dismissed and why do many cases not end in dismissal?

Just two officers were dismissed during the same five-year period, both in J division for “Gross Misconduct (Discreditable Conduct)” in 2024 and 2025, according to the data accompanying the Local Democracy Reporting Service story. In an explanatory note with the data, Police Scotland stated that suspension does not necessarily lead to dismissal, and that many officers “resign or retire before reaching the point of dismissal, or before dismissal is considered”.

This distinction is important for understanding the gap between suspensions and dismissals, as noted in the Midlothian View’s coverage, and aligns with broader national reporting on Police Scotland suspensions by outlets such as Edinburgh Live and the East Lothian Courier, which have highlighted similar patterns in officer conduct cases.

Which specific case has drawn attention in Midlothian?

Edinburgh Live reported last month on the conviction of 39-year-old Midlothian police officer David Brown for domestic abuse, a case that has become a focal point in local coverage of police suspensions, as referenced in the Midlothian View article. Brown was found to have subjected his former partner to a campaign of abuse for more than five years, with the charge covering actions at a residential address in Bonnyrigg, according to Edinburgh Live’s reporting.

At the time of Edinburgh Live’s story, the officer was suspended but remained a member of the police service, and his sentencing hearing was yet to take place, the outlet reported. Police Scotland Chief Superintendent Helen Harrison told Edinburgh Live: “Brown’s actions go against everything we stand for. Our thoughts are with the victim, and I hope this conviction provides her with some measure of closure”.

What has Police Scotland said about integrity and standards?

Police Scotland told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it demands the “highest level of integrity” from officers, and that when standards are not met, appropriate action is taken, as quoted by the Midlothian View. The force added:

“Those who do not uphold our values have no place in Police Scotland”,

reinforcing its public stance on conduct expectations.

In parallel, national and regional coverage, including reports by the East Lothian Courier and Edinburgh Live, has highlighted Police Scotland’s broader disclosures on suspensions and misconduct investigations, including sexual and domestic elements, as part of ongoing transparency efforts.

Background: how did policing structures and reporting develop in the Lothians and Borders?

E division covers the City of Edinburgh Council, while J division covers East Lothian, West Lothian, Midlothian and the Borders, according to the Midlothian View’s explanation of the data. Together, the two divisions cover the territory of the former Lothian and Borders Police, which was merged into Police Scotland in 2014, creating the single national force that now handles conduct and suspension data centrally.

Freedom of information requests to Police Scotland have increasingly been used by local democracy reporters and regional titles to obtain suspension and misconduct data, enabling detailed annual breakdowns by allegation type and division, as seen in the Local Democracy Reporting Service’s work and subsequent coverage by the Midlothian View and East Lothian Courier.

Prediction: how could rising suspensions affect communities and confidence in policing?

If suspension figures continue to rise, particularly for allegations of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse, the development could affect public confidence in policing across Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Borders, with residents and local stakeholders likely to scrutinise recruitment, vetting and professional standards processes more closely. Communities in Midlothian and neighbouring areas may also expect clearer communication from Police Scotland about outcomes in high-profile cases, such as the David Brown conviction, to maintain trust, as suggested by the emphasis on integrity statements in force responses reported by the Midlothian View and Edinburgh Live.