Ten police officers have lost a court battle to keep alleged “inappropriate” Whatsapp messages a secret after misconduct proceedings were raised against them.

The group took their fight to the Court of Session in Edinburgh where they argued that Police Scotland using the messages would be breaching their human rights.

Lawyers for the officers said that their right to privacy would be hindered and that there was no legal basis for the force to use the ‘private’ messages.

But Police Scotland argued that they were entitled to use the messages in disciplinary proceedings and that the comments made could bring the force into disrepute.

The messages were discovered on a mobile phone during an investigation into alleged sexual offences in 2016.

None of the ten officers were a suspect however a fellow officer came under suspicion and his phone was seized and searched. The officer was later cleared.

The alleged improper remarks, made during group chats, were discovered by a detective constable who handed them over to the Professional Standards Department of Police Scotland.

The officers launched a bid to have the messages kept secret and sought a judicial review meaning the courts would make the decision as opposed to a police misconduct panel.

In a written opinion, published on Friday, Lord Bannatyne said that there was a legal basis for the messages to be used for disciplinary proceedings.

He also found that, due to the nature of the messages and the standards an officer is expected to keep both on and off duty, that the group members did not have the same right to privacy as other members of the public.

Lord Bannatyne said: “The principle purpose of the police is the protection of the public. Officers behaving in the way set out in these messages may be held to have contravened the Standards.

“An officer who fails to meet the Standards, for the reasons put forward in the present case on the basis of the messages, can reasonably be inferred to be likely to be someone who would lose the confidence of the public and cause a decline in the general public confidence in the police.

“It is essential for the purpose of successful policing that the police maintain the confidence of the public.

“If the public loses confidence in the police in this way then public safety would be put at risk as the police cannot operate efficiently without such public confidence.

“This fits in with an intervention being necessary for “the prevention of disorder or crime”. “The police, if the public loses confidence in them, are likely to be less able to prevent disorder or crime.”

He continued: “I observe that certain aspects of the behaviour displayed in the messages shows a mind-set where the public’s right to be treated fairly is called into question for example depending on their race, religion or sexuality.

“Once more an officer who holds these types of views is less likely to have the confidence of the public and the public safety would be put at risk by having an officer of that type for the reasons I have set out.

“I consider that the argument comes to this: given the Standards and the regulatory framework to which a police officer is subject then he or she is in a different category from an ordinary member of the public and that because of their position as police officers their reasonable expectation of privacy is different from an ordinary member of the general 54 public.”

David Kennedy, deputy general secretary for the Scottish Police Federation, said: “We are disappointed that we have lost this case and are somewhat surprised at the outcome.

“We are currently working with our legal team to determine if we will be appealing the decision.”

A fleeing domestic abuser who sunk his teeth into the ear of a pursuing police dog has admitted breaking its jaw with a metal pole.

Jamie O’Neill had already assaulted his former partner at an address in Kilwinning on March 26 before throwing a brick through the window of a neighbouring property.

The shards of glass landed perilously close to a vulnerable 60-year-old woman, who was bedridden and suffered from vascular dementia, at the house on Dirrans Terrace.

The 33-year-old fled the scene and was soon tracked to the Nethermains Industrial Estate at around 3.40pm.

Police dog handler Paul O’Donnell attended and deployed PD Remo to apprehend O’Neill, who reached down and grabbed a large metal pole which he used to repeatedly hit the dog on the head.

As the dog continued to bite the calf on his right leg, O’Neill hunched over and sunk his teeth into Remo’s ear – causing a hole to pierce through the lobe.

PD Remo’s ear after the attack.

O’Neill then struck PC O’Donnell in the face with the same metal pole before eventually being brought under control.

During a journey to Crosshouse Hospital, near Kilmarnock, the thug continued to struggle violently in the back of the vehicle, forcing officers to stop and restrain him.

Once he arrived at the hospital for treatment to his leg, O’Neill continued to be verbally abusive before spitting in the face of a nurse.

He also continued to make threats towards his ex-partner and said he would “petrol bomb” her house.

Procurator fiscal depute Ruaraidh Ferguson told Kilmarnock Sheriff Court: “The constable suffered a cut to the left ear and also to the right cheek.

“The dog was seriously injured and required stitches to close the injury in the ear which was caused by the accused biting it.

“Also, as a result of being struck by the pole, the dog lost one of its full canine teeth and suffered a fractured jaw.”

Remo’s broken tooth canine tooth.

O’Neill’s defence solicitor told the court his client had very little recollection of the events having taken a “lethal cocktail” of Valium which did not mix well with his ADHD and depression.

He added that his client was “utterly ashamed” of his behaviour towards his ex-partner, the police and the dog.

O’Neill, a prisoner at HMP Kilmarnock, pled guilty to nine charges including two police assaults, causing unnecessary suffering to the dog and culpable and reckless conduct on Monday.

Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane deferred sentence for background reports until next month and O’Neill was remanded in custody.

PD Remo, a belgian malinois/dutch herder cross, suffered a broken tooth and underwent root canal surgery before a titanium crown was fitted.

An x-ray of PD Remo’s new titanium crown.

He has recovered well and has since returned to duty.

The bravo police dog previously made headlines after a bungling thief tried to get him off his tail by attempting to feed him pizza and two cans of Tennents lager in December last year.

A memorial has been held to pay tribute to a brave Glasgow police officer who was killed in the line of duty 25 years ago.

Police constable Lewis Fulton was stabbed whilst responding to an emergency call in the Gorbals area on June 17, 1994.

The 28-year-old, of Kilmarnock, was  left seriously injured after tackling a man with a knife who had already attacked one of his colleagues.

He was rushed to Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary but passed away a short time later, leaving behind his wife Christine and then seven-month-old son Luke.

Chief Superintendent Brian McInulty was joined by Christine Fulton, Luke Fulton and Georgette Fulton.

Colleagues, friends and loved ones gathered at Glasgow City Centre Police Office on Monday morning to mark the anniversary.

A floral wreath was laid on behalf of all those employed by Police Scotland in the Greater Glasgow Division.

Widow Christine was joined by her son Luke and the late police officer’s mother Georgette to witness the event.

Chief Superintendent Brian McInulty, divisional commander for the division, said: “This morning Greater Glasgow Police paused to reflect and to remember PC Lewis Fulton who was killed whilst serving the people of Glasgow 25 years ago today.

The memorial was held on the steps of Glasgow City Centre Police Office.

“We were honoured to be joined by Lewis’s wife, mother and son.”

A machete-wielding thug who left a police officer fearing for his life during an attempted murder bid has been jailed for 10 years.

Craig Brown was found guilty of trying to kill Sergeant Brian Simpson in Dumbarton last September by chasing him and repeatedly lashing out with a machete.

The 31-year-old was also ordered to serve an extended four year period on licence following his release from prison during his sentencing at Glasgow High Court on Friday.

In addition, Brown was handed a one-year prison term for carrying an offensive weapon and six months for damaging a police car with the blade, to be served concurrently.

Lord Clark blasted Brown for his “utterly contemptible” behaviour in attempting to kill a police officer but recognised that Sergeant Simpson had not suffered any physical injury.

He added that Brown had a significant history of violent offending including three assaults, two of which were to permanent disfigurement and one to the danger of life.

A background report found that Brown, who has a history of alcohol and drug misuse, was considered to be at “high risk of further offending”.

Brown showed no emotion as he was led out of the dock.

Sergeant Brian Simpson was called to the scene in Ashton View, Dumbarton, last September following reports of a man behaving suspiciously.

The 44-year-old, who was on a single-crewed patrol, found Craig Brown standing in the street before asking him if he was okay.

Brown, a prisoner at HMP Barlinnie, asked the sergeant if he was an armed response unit before chillingly stating: “Well, you better get one.”

The thug then pulled the machete-style weapon from his right trouser leg and repeatedly tried to strike the officer, who was forced to seek refuge behind a car.

Sergeant Simpson called for backup and Brown fled the scene when they arrived.

Brown denied the attempted murder but was found guilty following a trial last month

A police source said: “It was a machete-style weapon and the blade was about 22 inches long.

“You’ve also then got the handle on top of that so it was just over 2ft long. It went through the car quite easily.

“The type of call that came in, police officers go to similar ones two or three times a day and it usually turns out to be a false alarm with good intent.

“Often it’s someone just waiting on a friend. It could be anything. There was nothing in this case to suggest that this guy was in possession of a weapon of any kind.

“If this officer had a Taser, they probably would have had to use it because of the threat being posed against his life.

“There has been an increase in the number of Taser officers but unfortunately this was almost a ‘perfect storm’ because both Taser officers in the Dumbarton area were both held up elsewhere.

“It was just one of these incidents that just can’t be predicted but the incident could have been resolved differently if he had access to a Taser.

“His family are obviously extremely concerned. They appreciate that when you’re in the police that you’re exposed to risks that most others aren’t.

“But it still comes as a shock to them when their loved one is involved in an incident like this which is thankfully rare.”

Brown’s prison sentence was background to October 1 when he was first remanded in custody.

A fundraising page has been set up to support a Police Scotland officer who was left seriously injured after a road traffic collision.

PC Phil Hedge-Holmes suffered life-changing injuries after being struck by a Vauxhall Corsa  on London Road in Glasgow last Friday.

The 45-year-old, who has been with the force for almost five years, was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital by ambulance at around 11am.

He suffered extensive injuries to his leg and remains in hospital undergoing treatment.

Dedicated friends and colleagues have already raised more than £10,000 for the constable and his family after the page was launched on Thursday morning.

Police Scotland officer seriously injured after traffic collision in Glasgow

A post on the JustGiving page said: “On the morning of Friday 31st May 2019, PC Phil Hedge-Holmes and his colleague were assisting a lady who had been involved in minor road traffic crash.

“As always, Phil and his colleague firstly ensured the safety of the lady by helping remove her car from the road.

“Whilst doing so, Phil was struck by another car that had lost control. Phil suffered significant, life changing injuries as a result of this accident.

“Phil is a very caring and conscientious person who takes great pride in helping others whilst doing his job.

“Having spent some time with him since the incident, much of his thoughts are on his family and colleagues rather than himself. This is the type of guy Phil is.

“Phil has a long and difficult journey ahead of him as he recovers, requiring many operations and a lengthy stay in hospital, however he remains positive and determined about his recovery.

“I have created this page on behalf of all of Phil’s colleagues in support of him, in the hope to raise funds to ease the burden on Phil and his family.”

Tributes have been paid to PC Hedge-Holmes by dozens of colleagues within Police Scotland including Chief Constable Iain Livingstone.

Mr Livingstone said: “A good man goes to work to serve his community, his fellow citizens, and he and his family now have their lives changed forever.

“My love and thoughts are with Phil and his family. All of the police family and the people of Scotland are with you.”

Roads policing officers are continuing their enquiries and are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision to contact them.

Sergeant Michael McCusker said: “We need anyone who was in the area at the time and who has information which will assist our inquiry to get in touch.

“Anyone who may have captured the collision on their vehicles’ dashcam is also urged to come forward.”

To donate to the fund, please visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/pcphilhedge-holmes