Forres police officer placed on sex offenders register after assault

FORRES POLICE OFFICER PLACED ON SEX OFFENDERS REGISTER AFTER ASSAULT

A police officer named Herbert Scott Gallop, aged 54, who served at Moray Police Station in Forres, has been convicted of sexual assault against a female colleague, Gemma MacRae.

Gallop touched Ms MacRae’s bottom and other parts of her body despite her telling him to stop.

He was subsequently placed on the sex offenders register for one year and handed a supervision order for the same duration.

This conviction was the result of a 15-month investigation led by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, which identified misconduct by seven officers at the station, though only Gallop was criminally prosecuted due to insufficient evidence against others.

Ms.

MacRae, who now resides in Norway, waived her right to anonymity and expressed mixed emotions about the conviction, noting that it marked the end of a five-year ordeal.

She criticised police management for their failure to support and protect her, emphasising ongoing issues within the police culture.

Gallop’s defence claimed his actions were signs of not recognising boundaries, suggesting it was an isolated mistake driven by depression and suicidal feelings, and he accepted full responsibility.

The court described Gallop’s prior record as unblemished but found that he had a clear physical and emotional attraction to the victim, contradicting his claims of innocent affection.

The sentence handed down was a community payback order of one year of supervision, and he was registered as a sex offender for one year.

Police officials condemned Gallop’s conduct, praising the independent investigation, and reaffirmed their commitment to addressing misogyny, sexism, and discrimination within the force.

The case highlights issues of toxic culture and inadequate investigation procedures within police institutions.