𝕽𝖔𝖘𝖈𝖔𝖊

The police commander honoured by the King for overseeing security at the coronation is facing potential corruption charges after claims of a cover-up at Scotland Yard over driving offences. Prosecutors have been asked to consider charging Karen Findlay with a series of possible crimes, including perverting the course of justice, misconduct in public office, forgery, fraud and corrupt or improper use of police powers. The development follows a two-year investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) into Findlay, 57, a former Scottish rugby international who also helped to run the policing operation at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. Three other current or former Metropolitan Police officers or staff may also face criminal charges over the alleged scam after the IOPC sent files of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) last week. Findlay, who retired on her full police pension while under investigation, could be jailed if put on trial and convicted. The maximum sentence for misconduct in public office is life imprisonment. The IOPC launched its inquiry in spring 2024 after allegations that Findlay had falsely claimed she was on official duties when she was repeatedly caught speeding while driving a Jaguar provided by the Met. Investigators suspect that she separately helped a female Met sergeant evade red light offences in another vehicle linked to Findlay while she was also off-duty. Other Met officers and backroom staff, including a second commander, are believed to have been drawn into the inquiry after claims that Findlay put pressure on colleagues to make traffic enforcement notices “disappear”. Findlay, who moved to the Met from the now-defunct Grampian force in Scotland in 1993, is a veteran of high-profile policing events, including the London 2012 Olympics. She was second-in-command at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022 and led the security operation at the coronation of the King and Queen the following May. In the 2024 new year honours, Findlay was awarded the King’s Police Medal, the highest accolade in the profession. She was also made a lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in acknowledgment of her work at the coronation. The honour is bestowed on individuals at the personal discretion of the monarch. Findlay, who has previously been photographed with Charles at the Met’s main operations room in Lambeth, south London, described the awards as a “lovely unexpected surprise”. She is thought to have been given use of a hired police Jaguar before Queen Elizabeth II’s death in autumn 2022. However, she is said to have only returned the vehicle at the end of 2023, long after it was due, leaving the Met with a five-figure bill. The speeding offences which she is alleged to have lied about took place during this time. The Met’s Department of Professional Standards, nicknamed the Line of Duty squad after the BBC television series about police corruption, initially investigated a “conduct matter” involving Findlay. It later referred the case to the IOPC. Findlay left the Met last July while she was still being investigated by the police watchdog. She now appears to be offering her services as a private security consultant, according to her LinkedIn profile. Findlay captained Scotland in rugby 52 times before retiring in 2006. She later went on to coach her national team and Harlequins Ladies at Twickenham. On Friday, an IOPC spokesman said: “We have completed our investigation into allegations relating to the unauthorised use of police vehicles by Met officers and failures to follow the proper process following receipt of notices of intended prosecution for driving offences.” “Our investigation began in April 2024 following a conduct referral for a senior Met officer, who has since retired, and it widened to include further individuals.” Continued…