Former Police Scotland Officer Convicted of Catalogue of Rapes and Sexual Assaults Spanning 17 Years

A former Police Scotland officer has been convicted at the High Court in Glasgow after being found guilty of an extensive series of sexual offences, including two counts of rape, spanning a period of seventeen years. Campbell Petrie, aged 50, faced trial over a wide range of violent and abusive actions that were committed between 2006 and 2023. The verdict concludes a major criminal prosecution involving an individual who had served as a sworn law enforcement officer throughout the lengthy timeframe of his offending.

The jury returned guilty verdicts across a total of nine distinct charges, establishing Petrie's criminal responsibility for a sustained pattern of physical and sexual abuse. The specific offences of which he was convicted include two counts of rape, indecent assault, assault with intent to rape, and assault to injury and danger of life. The severity of the charges demonstrates the dangerous and protracted nature of the harm inflicted by the former officer.

Throughout the entire seventeen-year timeframe from 2006 to 2023 when the crimes took place, Petrie remained an active, serving member of Police Scotland. The abusive behaviour continued across nearly two decades while he maintained his position within the ranks of the national police service, raising serious concerns regarding how such repeated conduct could persist over such an extended professional career.

Following an inquiry into his conduct, Police Scotland confirmed that Petrie was officially arrested, charged, and suspended from his policing duties in December 2023. He subsequently ended his time with the police service by retiring in December of the following year, prior to the High Court trial reaching its final conclusion.

Following the announcement of the guilty verdicts on all nine counts, Petrie was remanded in custody by the court. He is set to remain detained in prison while pre-sentencing procedures are completed, with his formal sentencing hearing scheduled to take place before the High Court next month.

In the wake of the conviction, Detective Superintendent Adam Brown, representing Police Scotland’s public protection unit, publicly addressed the outcome of the legal proceedings. Det Supt Brown extended the force’s thoughts to those affected and commended the profound bravery required by the victims to come forward, report the crimes, and ensure the former officer was held accountable.

Det Supt Brown explicitly acknowledged the immense emotional and practical challenges that victims endure when attempting to report serious sexual violence and abuse. He noted that the reporting process becomes extraordinarily daunting when the perpetrator is an individual holding the authority and status of a police officer, which can create significant barriers for victims seeking justice.

Seeking to provide reassurance to the wider public, Det Supt Brown emphasized that Police Scotland is committed to uncovering and investigating criminal behaviour within its own personnel. He affirmed that the police service will vigorously pursue offending officers regardless of whether they are actively serving on the force or have already retired.

The detective superintendent also stressed that accountability applies unconditionally, whether unlawful conduct takes place while an officer is on active duty or, as was demonstrated in Petrie's case, while the individual is off duty. Brown stated firmly that Petrie would now be forced to face the legal consequences of his prolonged pattern of abusive actions.

The conviction of Petrie adds to broader concerns regarding serious misconduct, violent abuse, and predatory sexual behaviour linked to members of Police Scotland. The verdict arrives at a time when the police force is confronting intense scrutiny into how predatory behaviour by serving officers is detected, investigated, and addressed internally.

Earlier this year, a separate BBC Disclosure investigation brought to light another egregious case of sexual violence within the force, revealing that PC Alan Greer was a violent serial rapist who carried out attacks against women over a timeframe of at least 14 years.

Greer's documented history of attacks began as early as 2012, when his first known victim was raped inside her own Glasgow home. The woman had initially contacted the police to report that she had been the victim of a crime, only to be subjected to a violent sexual assault by the responding officer. It was further revealed that Greer had used hundreds of prostitutes across the duration of his policing career.

While Police Scotland has formally identified 15 women who fell victim to Greer's predatory actions, investigators and observers fear that the comprehensive total of women he attacked during his 14 years of offending could be significantly higher than the confirmed figure.

The Greer case also triggered intense scrutiny regarding Police Scotland’s recruitment and vetting standards. It was revealed that Greer had managed to pass all necessary background checks to join the police force despite having two prior reports detailing criminal behaviour against women already recorded on his record.

Greer never stood trial for the full scope of his alleged offences, as he took his own life in May. His death occurred only days after law enforcement officers conducted a formal raid on his home as part of the ongoing criminal investigation into his extensive catalogue of predatory attacks.

With Petrie now awaiting his formal sentencing behind bars and the chilling details of Greer's conduct remaining in the public consciousness, the latest conviction at the High Court in Glasgow underscores the intense scrutiny facing Police Scotland regarding the conduct, vetting, and oversight of officers entrusted with protecting the public.