Strathclyde Police and the Crown Office have confirmed that they will hold an investigation into allegations that former Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell took drugs.

 

The announcement comes more than a month after Purcell’s initial resignation as a councillor citing “stress and exhaustion” as the reasons for his departure. However, following Purcell’s admission in an interview with the Scottish Sun that he had taken cocaine “a handful of times”, calls for a criminal investigation from opposition councillors have continued to grow.

 

Commenting on the launch of the investigation, a Strathclyde Police spokesperson told The Herald: “Strathclyde Police can confirm that following assessment of information surrounding allegations of drug-taking and other matters concerning Steven Purcell that a criminal investigation is now under way.

 

“As a result it would be inappropriate to make any further comment about the investigation as this would be detrimental to any process.”

 

A Crown Office spokesperson said: “The Area Procurator Fiscal in Glasgow has been kept fully informed by Strathclyde Police of their assessment of information and confirms that there is now an ongoing criminal investigation, the outcome of which will be reported to her in due course.

 

“It would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this stage.”