THE exclusion of Police Scotland from the remit of the inquiry into the murder of Emma Caldwell was branded a “travesty of justice” by her family today.

Ms Caldwell was murdered in 2005, but the man who killed her, Iain Packer, was left free to continue his campaign of sexual offences against women for nearly two decades before he was finally convicted in 2024 and caged for a minimum of 36 years.

The family had long argued key opportunities to stop him earlier had been “sabotaged” by police, prompting the Scottish government to grant a public inquiry into the investigation.

But the publication of that inquiry’s remit, looking at contributory factors in “any failures by Strathclyde Police or Crown Office during the investigation” has left Emma’s mother, Margaret Caldwell “deeply concerned.”

She “did not spend 20 years fighting for the truth, to now see Police Scotland conveniently excluded from investigation,” the family’s solicitor Aamer Anwar said.

“That would be a travesty of justice and a further betrayal of her Emma and the many women who suffered at the hands of that evil man, Packer.

“Sir Stephen House was chief constable of Strathclyde Police from 2007, and then chief constable of Police Scotland when it was established in 2013.”

Noting that senior detectives on the case “went on to senior positions at Police Scotland,” he added: “it is inconceivable that the role of Police Scotland should not be looked at.”

Arguing a “toxic culture of misogyny and corruption” meant the police “failed so many women and girls who came forward to speak up against Packer,” he continued: “We now know Packer carried out rapes, sexual offences and assaults many times after Emma’s murder in 2005.

“Margaret believes that officers sabotaged an investigation into Packer for a decade and have blood on their hands, for far too long they have remained in the shadows but must now answer for their betrayal.”

Stating that she had consulted with the family and inquiry chair Lord Scott on the remit, Scottish Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “I am satisfied that they are both well focused and sufficiently flexible and broad enough to allow the chair to examine wider issues he may consider relevant to a robust, efficient and effective inquiry.”

Police Scotland and the Crown Office were contacted for comment.