An assistant chief constable at Police Scotland defended aspects of Operation Branchform.
A senior Police Scotland officer has defended the length of the criminal investigation into the SNP’s finances, saying the time taken was “crucial” given its complexity.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said Peter Murrell had “abused his privileged position with access to Scottish National Party funds to divert cash into his own accounts and bankroll the lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford”.
The senior officer said it is a “matter for them to answer” when asked if others around Peter Murrell, the party’s former chief executive, were aware of his crimes.
Speaking to the media at Fettes police station in Edinburgh, Mr Houston was asked about the length of time taken by Operation Branchform, the police investigation into the SNP’s finances which began in 2021.
On Monday, 25 May, 2026 at the High Court in Edinburgh Peter Murrell was convicted of embezzling funds from the Scottish National Party.
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Mr Houston, who had oversight of the investigation, said: “I think (given) the volume and nature of the real, real complexity regarding the financial crimes that were committed – it has taken some time but that was crucial.”
Mr Houston spoke shortly after Murrell admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP in a 12-year period.
He said Murrell’s guilty plea showed that a “thorough and robust investigation was conducted”.
Operation Branchform is now “complete”, he added.
Mr Houston also defended the use of a blue evidence tent which was placed outside Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell’s home.
He said this was necessary to ensure the “integrity of investigations” when items were removed from the house.
Asked if anyone else was aware of Murrell’s activities, Mr Houston said: “What others may be aware of, that’s a matter for them to answer, what they may or may not have known regarding the conduct and the criminal behaviour of Peter Murrell.”
Asked if it was credible that others around the former SNP chief executive were not aware of Murrell’s crimes, he said: “We arrested and interviewed other persons during the course of this investigation.
“After direction and engagement with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, no-one else was charged in relation to those offences.”
Mr Houston confirmed that the overall cost of Operation Branchform was more than £2 million.
