MSP denies placing secret camera in Scottish parliament toilets

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A suspended Labour MSP has denied allegations helium placed a concealed camera successful toilets successful the Scottish parliament.

Colin Smyth has been charged by constabulary successful narration to the allegation, according to the PA quality agency.

The South Scotland MSP was arrested connected 5 August and charged with a abstracted offence of possession of indecent images, for which helium was suspended from Scottish Labour.

His walk for Holyrood was deactivated connected Thursday.

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On Friday, Smyth said helium was "fully cooperating" with the probe but said the police's determination to merchandise further accusation and his location code had been "devastating".

"This allegation has travel arsenic an utter daze and 1 I powerfully refute," helium said.

"For ineligible reasons, I can't respond to circumstantial matters oregon speculation, and I admit determination is simply a process to spell done which I am, of course, afloat cooperating with. But I sincerely anticipation it tin beryllium concluded rapidly and fairly.

"The speculation, and the caller determination by the constabulary to publically merchandise details of their ongoing inquiries on with my location code has been devastating and has taken a superior toll connected my health.

"After my code was published with nary informing to my family, I felt I had nary prime but to determination distant to support them. That has besides meant losing the section NHS captious enactment I had been receiving for the past fewer weeks, making an already hard clip adjacent much distressing."

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'No covert signaling devices found'

The Scottish Parliament presiding serviceman Alison Johnstone confirmed Police Scotland had carried retired a expanse of the gathering pursuing the allegations and "no covert signaling devices person been found".

Ms Johnstone said: "We tin corroborate that Police Scotland, with our support, person conducted a afloat expanse of each toilets and changing rooms successful our gathering and that nary covert signaling devices person been found.

"We person besides instructed that enhanced further checks to our existing information sweeps of the gathering instrumentality spot going forward."

Smyth was elected arsenic an MSP successful 2016 and returned to Holyrood again successful the 2021 election.

He is present listed arsenic an autarkic connected the Scottish parliament website.

Scottish Labour says 'swift action' taken

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "On Tuesday, 5 August 2025, officers executed a warrant astatine a spot connected Marchfield Avenue, Dumfries.

"A 52-year-old antheral was arrested and charged successful transportation with possession of indecent images. He is owed to look astatine Dumfries Sheriff Court astatine a aboriginal date."

A Scottish Labour Party spokesperson said: "Swift enactment was taken aft we became alert of these superior allegations. Colin Smyth MSP is an autarkic MSP.

"We cannot remark further connected these profoundly concerning developments portion ineligible proceedings are ongoing."

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