Former Police Scotland Officer Campbell Petrie Convicted of Nine Sexual Offences Spanning 17 Years

A former Police Scotland officer has been convicted at the High Court in Glasgow after carrying out a prolonged campaign of violent and sexual offences spanning nearly two decades. Campbell Petrie, 50, was found guilty of nine criminal charges that encompassed multiple acts of abuse committed between 2006 and 2023.

The jury delivered guilty verdicts on a wide range of grave accusations against the former constable. Among the nine charges were two counts of rape, alongside offences of indecent assault, assault with intent to rape, and assault to injury and danger of life. The court heard that Petrie’s criminality stretched across a 17-year timeframe while he was an active member of the police service.

Although Petrie was employed as a serving law enforcement officer during the entirety of the period in question, the offences for which he was convicted took place while he was off duty. His status within the force, however, formed a significant backdrop to the case and the subsequent investigation into his conduct.

The timeline of Petrie’s apprehension and formal separation from the police began in late 2023. Police Scotland confirmed that the former officer was formally arrested, charged with the offences, and placed under suspension from his policing duties in December 2023.

Following his initial suspension, Petrie formally retired from Police Scotland in December of last year. Following the conclusion of the trial proceedings and the return of the jury's guilty verdicts at the High Court in Glasgow, Petrie was remanded in custody. He is scheduled to be sentenced by the court next month.

The outcome of the trial prompted a public response from Police Scotland’s leadership. Detective Superintendent Adam Brown, representing the force’s public protection unit, commended the individuals who came forward to report Petrie’s crimes, acknowledging the courage required to pursue justice against a member of law enforcement.

In his remarks, Detective Superintendent Brown expressed that the thoughts of the police service remain firmly with the victims who endured Petrie’s abuse. He praised their fortitude throughout the judicial process, noting that their willingness to speak out was instrumental in bringing the former officer to account.

The senior detective also addressed the complex and intimidating circumstances surrounding complaints made against police personnel. Brown acknowledged the profound difficulties and unique challenges victims encounter when attempting to report sexual offences, particularly when the perpetrator is an individual invested with the authority of the state.

Reiterating the force’s commitment to internal accountability, Brown sought to provide reassurance to the public regarding how allegations against officers are handled. He emphasized that the service will actively identify and thoroughly investigate personnel accused of such crimes, regardless of whether they are active or retired, or whether the alleged conduct occurred while on duty or off duty.

Detective Superintendent Brown stated that Petrie must now face the full consequences of his actions following his conviction. The verdict marks the conclusion of a complex investigation into an officer whose abusive conduct persisted over the course of his law enforcement career.

The guilty verdicts against Petrie arrive amid heightened scrutiny surrounding the conduct of police personnel in Scotland, following other recent high-profile revelations concerning sexual violence within the ranks.

Earlier this year, an investigation by BBC Disclosure uncovered another case involving a violent serial rapist within the same police service. PC Alan Greer was revealed to have carried out an extensive series of attacks against women over a period spanning at least 14 years.

Greer’s first known victim was a woman in Glasgow whom he attacked in her own home in 2012, after she had originally contacted the police service to report that she had been the victim of a crime. Investigative findings further revealed that Greer had regularly used hundreds of prostitutes throughout his policing career.

Police Scotland subsequently identified 15 separate victims targeted by Greer, though serious concerns remain that the total number of women abused could be substantially higher. Greer had successfully navigated recruitment vetting checks to enter the police force, despite already possessing a record containing two prior reports of criminal behaviour directed against women.

The Greer case came to an abrupt end in May when he took his own life, only days after police officers conducted a search of his residence as part of the criminal inquiry into his offences.

With Petrie now awaiting sentencing behind bars and prior revelations continuing to highlight past institutional failings, the conviction at the High Court in Glasgow represents another significant moment of reckoning regarding predatory behaviour by police officers.