Operation Branchform investigators 'dragging their heels', says campaigner who made first complaint

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An independence campaigner whose complaint sparked an investigation into SNP finances has accused Police Scotland of "dragging its heels" in the case.Sean Clerkin claimed detectives "seemed to be hesitating" as Operation Branchform enters its 30th month.He made a formal complaint in March 2021 calling for officers to launch an investigation into how SNP donations supposedly ring-fenced by the party for an IndyRef2 campaign had been spent.Detectives subsequently launched Operation Branchform in July 2021 following several more complaints on the matter from members of the public.The political world was stunned in April this year when police arrested and questioned Peter Murrrel, the former SNP chief executive, before releasing him without charge pending further investigation.Nicola Sturgeon and Colin Beattie, the party's former treasurer, were also arrested and questioned separately by detectives in the weeks after Murrell - but neither has been charged.The former first minister has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.Clerkin told the Record he had recently asked officers for an update on the investigation following speculation on social media it had been completed with no charges brought."They told me it was an on-going investigation and they are continuing to gather evidence," he said."The first thing I asked was: 'what's the time scale?' But they said they could not tell me."Clerkin added: "They are dragging their heels.

It's been going on two-and-a-half years. It was March 26, 2021 when I made the initial complaint."They have arrested three people and not charged them."The police have been very slow in their investigation.