THE luxury campervan seized from the Dunfermline home of Nicola Sturgeon's mother-in-law shouldn't be returned until the probe into the SNP's finances is complete.
That's the view of Sir Iain Livingstone, the former chief constable of Police Scotland, who has defended the long running investigation into the political party.
He was in charge when the £110,000 Niesmann + Bischoff motorhome was towed away last April as part of the force's inquiries while the Glasgow home of Ms Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell, and the party's Edinburgh HQ, were also searched.
It's been reported that senior figures in the party want the campervan back either to use during the upcoming general election campaign, or to sell to help raise funds for it.
However in an interview with the Herald, Sir Iain, who also stays in Dunfermline, said: "I don't think anything should be happening until there is a decision from the Crown Office."
As part of the investigation Mr Murrell, the SNP's former chief executive, was arrested. He was later released without charge pending further inquiries.
Ms Sturgeon and the SNP's former national treasurer Colin Beattie were both later arrested and also released without charge.
The former first minister has denied any wrongdoing.
There is concern among the SNP that the probe - which was launched in July 2021 - is taking too long and could harm their chances at the polls with a general election looming this year.
Sir Iain responded: "We have always acted in the interests of justice and the rule of law. The political circumstances are around us at all times. I know we have acted with due process."
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He continued: "The sooner things come to a head for everyone, the better and I still believe that.
"The police have always worked very very closely with prosecutors, the Crown Office and the fiscal service and I am sure that is continuing."
Sir Iain also defended the force from criticism that the search of the former First Minister's home, with a blue forensic tent erected outside, was heavy handed.
He said: "I think it was proportionate and necessary, as I said at the time, and I still believe I would have been in neglect of duty had we not acted as we did."
The campervan, thought to have been bought for use as an election battle bus, was reportedly delivered to the home of Mr Murrell's mother in Dunfermline in January 2021.
Dunfermline and West Fife MP Douglas Chapman, who was SNP treasurer for six months until he quit due to a lack of information, said he did not know of the purchase.
Stephen Flynn, the party’s leader in Westminster, who is going to Germany with thousands of other Scotland fans for the Euro 2024 football tournament in June, made light of the story.
“We could perhaps lend the campervan out to the Tartan Army, it will save folk having to pay for these extortionate hotels,” he joked.
First Minister Humza Yousaf admitted he only found out the party had purchased the motorhome shortly after he became SNP leader.
A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “Senior professional prosecutors from COPFS and an advocate depute are working with police on this ongoing investigation.
“It is standard practice that any case regarding politicians is dealt with by prosecutors without the involvement of the Law Officers. All Scotland’s prosecutors act independently of political interference.
“As is routine, to protect the integrity of ongoing investigations, we do not comment in detail on their conduct.”
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