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63 staff members have been suspended from the force amid ongoing criminal investigations, according to figures released under freedom of information laws.

The total includes 45 constables, six sergeants and two inspectors, although details of the individual cases have not been disclosed.

Chief Constable Farrell said between 300 and 400 officers had now undergone renewed vetting under tougher rules introduced following the murder of Sarah Everard by serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens.

Between 300 and 400 officers have now undergone renewed vetting under tougher rules for the force

“It’s only now during this year that there has been a change in the vetting regime. So for the first time, if an officer fails their vetting, they can be exited from policing,” the Chief Constable said.

“So that is a very recent change, and a welcome change from my point of view. Up until that point there were no opportunities to exit people from the organisation.”

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“My focus is on identifying where there is wrongdoing, criminality, particularly in relation to violence against women and girls and if that has been committed by our officers and our staff, that we identify it and we ensure that those people feel the full force of the law.”

Chief Constable Farrell’s comments follow a series of convictions of former Police Scotland officers.

She confirmed that a review into the force’s handling of former officer Alan Greer was ongoing. Greer, who died by suicide, was later exposed as a serial rapist.

The police chief added that around 8,000 officers were still awaiting renewed vetting after regulations changed earlier this year.

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Further inquiries found that he had passed vetting checks to join the then Strathclyde Police in 2009, despite two reports of criminal behaviour towards women being recorded against him.

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