Former Scottish Police Officer Convicted of Nine Sex Offence Charges Spanning 17 Years

A former Police Scotland officer has been convicted at the High Court in Glasgow following a criminal trial that revealed a harrowing and sustained series of sexual violence and abuse spanning nearly two decades. Campbell Petrie, who spent years working as a serving officer within the national police force, was found guilty of an extensive list of serious offences carried out between 2006 and 2023.

The 50-year-old former constable was convicted on nine separate criminal charges after the jury considered evidence detailing his offending behaviour over the course of the 17-year timeframe. The decisive verdict marks the conclusion of high-profile legal proceedings against a man who committed serious violent acts while simultaneously being employed in a profession dedicated to upholding the law.

Among the nine counts of which Petrie was convicted were two individual charges of rape, alongside multiple other severe violent and sexual offences. Official court records confirmed that his criminal acts encompassed indecent assault, assault with intent to rape, and assault resulting in both physical injury and danger to human life.

Throughout the entire 17-year span in which these attacks occurred, Petrie remained an active, serving officer within Police Scotland. Police authorities confirmed that while his criminal offences were committed while he was off duty, he retained his professional status and authority as a police officer during the entirety of the timeline.

According to official statements from Police Scotland, Petrie was formally arrested, charged, and suspended from his policing duties in December 2023. Following that formal suspension from active service, he subsequently retired from the police force in December of the following year.

Following the delivery of the guilty verdicts at the High Court in Glasgow, Petrie was immediately remanded in custody by the court. The former police officer is now scheduled to be formally sentenced by the judiciary next month.

In the aftermath of the conviction, Detective Superintendent Adam Brown of Police Scotland's public protection unit delivered a formal response paying tribute to those harmed by Petrie’s offences. He stated that the thoughts of the force remain firmly with the victims and commended their exceptional personal strength and bravery in coming forward to report the crimes and bring Petrie to justice.

Detective Superintendent Brown spoke directly about the unique hurdles and psychological barriers that victims confront when attempting to report abusive behavior committed by law enforcement personnel. He acknowledged that coming forward to report such serious offences is exceptionally difficult, especially when the perpetrator is an active police officer.

The senior detective went on to offer clear assurances to the public regarding the commitment of the force to pursue wrongdoers within its own ranks. He emphasized that Police Scotland will identify and thoroughly investigate offending officers, regardless of whether they are serving personnel or have since retired, and regardless of whether their offences were carried out while on duty or, as occurred in this instance, while off duty.

Concluding his official statement on the matter, Detective Superintendent Brown affirmed that Petrie will now face the full consequences of his criminal actions, noting that the judicial process will ensure accountability for the harm he inflicted.

The conviction of Petrie follows a period of heightened public attention and critical scrutiny surrounding sexual misconduct, violence, and institutional safeguards within Police Scotland. Earlier this year, a comprehensive investigative report broadcast by BBC Disclosure exposed another egregious case concerning an officer who operated as a violent serial rapist over more than a decade.

That investigation centered on PC Alan Greer, who was revealed to have engaged in a pattern of violent sexual attacks on women over a period of at least 14 years. Greer’s first known victim was a woman in Glasgow whom he raped inside her own residence in 2012, after she had reached out to the police specifically to report that she had been the victim of a crime.

The investigative findings also revealed that Greer made extensive use of hundreds of prostitutes across the duration of his policing career. Although Police Scotland has officially identified 15 individual victims targeted by Greer, widespread concerns remain that the actual number of women harmed by his actions is significantly higher.

The revelation of Greer's offences highlighted profound systemic concerns regarding police recruitment and background vetting procedures. It was established that Greer successfully passed formal police vetting checks to join the force despite possessing an existing record that included two prior reports of criminal behaviour directed against women.

Greer never stood trial for his crimes, having taken his own life in May. His death occurred only days after investigating officers conducted a formal search raid on his home as part of an active criminal probe into his extensive history of sexual abuse.

Petrie’s conviction on nine distinct charges of sexual violence and assault marks another pivotal moment of accountability for historical offences linked to police personnel in Scotland. With the former officer now held in custody awaiting his sentencing next month, the outcome underscores the vital importance of pursuing justice for victims regardless of the perpetrator's professional background.