Top cop claims it’s not her job to meet with slain Alistair Wilson’s family

SCOTLAND’S top cop today insisted it wasn’t her job to meet with the family of murdered banker Alistair Wilson – and revealed more junior colleagues would liaise with them instead.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell confirmed she had knocked back a request to meet with Alistair’s widow Veronica and her two sons, who say they have “lost trust” in the force.

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The murder victim’s oldest lad Andrew, 24, first revealed the snub at the weekend.

And on Monday, Ms Farrell insisted crime fighters had extensively investigated the 2004 unsolved doorstep slaying – but said the Wilsons should engage with the new senior cop charged with finding his killer, as well as family liaison experts.

She was speaking at Police Scotland headquarters in Tulliallan at the launch of a three-year Scotland-wide police plan dubbed Operation Evolve – which involves a pledge to better support victims.

Ms Farrell said: “We’re absolutely committed to trying to solve, find and get justice for the family of Alistair Wilson.

“And you know that we have a really, really strong record around major investigations and homicide.

“So we have a new SIO (senior investigating officer) and a team appointed that’s been in consultation with the Lord Advocate.

“This has been over a number of years a very, very extensive investigation and I just want to reiterate that – a very, very extensive investigation.

“A new SIO, as directed through the Crown and the Lord Advocate, and we will now work to try and bring justice for the family.

“I think it’s important that family liaison officers and the new SIO build a rapport with the family.

“I haven’t got any immediate plans to meet the family but we are absolutely committed to try and get justice and find the person who is responsible for that crime.”

Asked again to explain why she would decline the family’s request to meet with her, said: “It’s important that the senior investigating officer and her team and her family liaison officers build the relationship with the family and progress that investigation.”

The top cop later added: “The family’s views in relation to us are not positive and we are trying through the new SIO and those family liaisons to build those bridges and provide confidence to the family that we will get justice for them.”

Ms Farrell stood her ground just days after the Wilson family issued a statement accusing Police Scotland of incompetence and hitting out at the chief’s refusal to discuss their worries over how the long-running case has been handled.

They hit out after the force announced a third fresh probe into the mystery that saw Mr Wilson shot dead on his doorstep in Nairn 20 years ago this November 28.

The family also raised questions over the force’s response to an upheld complaint they made about Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Livingstone.

He hasn’t faced suspension but has been replaced by cold case expert Detective Chief Superintendent Suzanne Chow, who will head the new inquiry ordered last week by Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain, KC, head of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

The family’s public rebuke also comes after the force indicated in May last year they were close to making a breakthrough – but no arrests have since been made.

The family statement said: ’Over the past 18 months, our relationship has steadily deteriorated because of unresolved and ongoing issues that are not being properly addressed.

“The poor judgement and lack of accountability at the highest levels of Police Scotland has regrettably eroded any trust we have in their ability to secure justice for Alistair.”

They added: “We were shocked our request to meet Chief Constable Jo Farrell in a last-ditch attempt to salvage relations was met with an outright refusal.

“Last week’s announcement that Alistair’s murder would be subject to a “complete reinvestigation” was upsetting and a huge disappointment as the announcement felt far from the “good news story” that Police Scotland wanted it to be.

“Our loyalty to and cooperation with Police Scotland has long been taken for granted during a sometimes turbulent relationship that the actions of senior leadership has damaged beyond repair. If Police Scotland has any credibility left, it will prioritise putting investigations and justice ahead of protecting its own reputation.”

Andrew added: “I cannot understand why Paul Livingstone hasn’t been sacked and if Jo Farrell won’t rethink our request for a meeting, then it brings into question her position too.

“What we have suffered is nothing short of incompetent police leadership and, if it continues, it risks getting in the way of catching my dad’s killer and getting the justice we as a family deserve.”

Alistair  was shot dead by a gunman using a 1930s’ Haenel Suhl pocket pistol as his kids Andrew and Graham slept upstairs.

We told how officers investigating the notorious assassination travelled to Canada in February 2022 to interview Andy Burnet, 57, former landlord of the Moray town’s Havelock Hotel.

Alistair had objected to a planning application for decking at the boozer opposite his home.

Det Supt Graeme Mackie previously told The Scottish Sun: “We need to know who else was in the pub that night who may have heard it and might have reacted to the idea this decking might be getting taken away from them.”

Mr Burnet said: “I’m not a suspect, I never have been.”

Police Scotland’s Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson said: “Officers remain committed and determined to identify Alistair’s killer and to get justice for his family.”