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Minister has 'full confidence' in Sir Stephen House after M9 crash delay M9 crash report man 'feels guilt'
(35 minutes later)
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson has said he has "full confidence" in the chief constable of Police Scotland. The man who made the initial call to report a car that had crashed off the M9 near Stirling has told BBC News he feels guilty for not following it up.
Sir Stephen House has been under growing pressure following the force's handling of a fatal crash on the M9. The local man said he called the non-emergency 101 number at 11:30 on Sunday 5 June.
Lamara Bell, 25, died in hospital at the weekend after lying critically ill for three days in a crashed car, next to her dead partner John Yuill, 28. He was told officers would investigate.
A review of police call handling in Scotland has been announced by the Scottish government. John Yuill was found dead inside the vehicle three days later. His girlfriend, Lamara Bell, was critically injured and died in hospital at the weekend.
Although the couple were not found until Wednesday, Police Scotland admitted the crash was reported to them three days earlier. Ms Bell had suffered broken bones and kidney damage through dehydration after being trapped beside the body of Mr Yuill for three days.
It has since emerged that police only sent a crew to investigate the crash when a second call was made by someone else three days later.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the country's justice secretary, Michael Matheson, have both given their backing to the chief constable of Police Scotland, Sir Stephen House, who has been under growing pressure following the force's handling of a fatal crash.
Sir Stephen has admitted that the initial information received about the crash was not entered into police systems.
But Ms Sturgeon has told BBC Scotland she does believe the system is failing.
The initial caller, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the officer dealing with him on the Sunday sounded like he knew what he was doing and was not dismissive.
Details were taken of the location, described by the caller as "on the fork, between the M9 and M80."
The car, he said, was not visible from the motorway.
He said there was "nothing to suggest they would not take it seriously" and that he "assumed the police would check it out".
He became concerned on the Monday and Tuesday when the car was still there with no police tape covering it, but had thought it "must be awaiting recovery."
He said he was "aware of what was being said about whether he should have done more" but believed police were handling it.
Officers from Police Scotland have visited the man and questioned him for several hours.
He has also been interviewed by Pirc, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Matheson was asked about calls for the police chief to "consider his position".Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Matheson was asked about calls for the police chief to "consider his position".
Mr Matheson said: "I think the chief constable has a number of challenges which he has dealt with coming into post.Mr Matheson said: "I think the chief constable has a number of challenges which he has dealt with coming into post.
"He has also acknowledged there has been a number of mistakes made over the last couple of years, and clearly there's been a mistake made with this particular case, and he's sought to try and address them."He has also acknowledged there has been a number of mistakes made over the last couple of years, and clearly there's been a mistake made with this particular case, and he's sought to try and address them.
"It's important the focus now has to be on making sure this type of thing cannot occur again and we learn the lessons from that. "It's important the focus now has to be on making sure this type of thing cannot occur again and we learn the lessons from that."
"We also have to make sure we have the right safeguards in there to ensure that if anyone makes a call to one of the Police Scotland contact centres then it is dealt with effectively." Mr Matheson was speaking after a review of police call handling in Scotland was announced by the Scottish government.
The urgent review by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) will focus broadly on all call handling procedures and will be in addition to the ongoing independent inquiry specifically into the M9 incident by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc).The urgent review by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) will focus broadly on all call handling procedures and will be in addition to the ongoing independent inquiry specifically into the M9 incident by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc).
Sir Stephen has admitted that the initial information received about crash was not entered into police systems. Ms Bell had been in a medically-induced coma at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. She died at about 06:50 on Sunday.
Ms Bell had been in a medically-induced coma at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow after suffering kidney damage from dehydration from lying in the wreckage for so long. She died at about 06:50 on Sunday.
A statement issued on behalf of the Bell family confirmed: "Sadly, our daughter has passed away."
Writing on Facebook, Ms Bell's brother Martin said he was "blown away" by the efforts made by the Falkirk community to support the families, with fundraising events being set up and money raised to help pay for funeral arrangements.Writing on Facebook, Ms Bell's brother Martin said he was "blown away" by the efforts made by the Falkirk community to support the families, with fundraising events being set up and money raised to help pay for funeral arrangements.
He said: "It's times like this when you realise how good a community we live in.He said: "It's times like this when you realise how good a community we live in.
"It just feels like a bad dream right now, but all your kind words and efforts are helping so much, there are so many kind and decent people out there.""It just feels like a bad dream right now, but all your kind words and efforts are helping so much, there are so many kind and decent people out there."
The Yuill family added: "The family of John Yuill would like to say that their prayers and thoughts are with Lamara and her family. We are devastated by the sad news.The Yuill family added: "The family of John Yuill would like to say that their prayers and thoughts are with Lamara and her family. We are devastated by the sad news.
"The families have messaged each and our thoughts are with John and Lamara's children at this very sad time.""The families have messaged each and our thoughts are with John and Lamara's children at this very sad time."
Sir Stephen has welcomed the review into call handling. He said Police Scotland needed to be able "to reassure the Scottish public that we have both the capacity and the capability to deal with their calls". 'Warning signs'
There had been pressure from opposition politicians for a wider inquiry into the operation of Scotland's single police force in light of the incident.There had been pressure from opposition politicians for a wider inquiry into the operation of Scotland's single police force in light of the incident.
'Workload pressures' Scottish Labour's justice spokeswoman, Elaine Murray, told BBC Scotland that a review of how the police call handling system was working should have taken place sooner.
Speaking on Good Morning Scotland, Scottish Labour's justice spokeswoman, Elaine Murray, said a review of how the police call handling system was working should have taken place sooner. "It's easy to be wise with hindsight, but I think there were warning signs there that the system was not working well and perhaps inquiries should have been made sooner.
"It's easy to be wise with hindsight," she said.
"But I think there were warning signs there that the system was not working well and perhaps inquiries should have been made sooner.
"I think Sir Stephen House has a number of problems and if I was Sir Stephen House I would be considering my position this morning. However, it's important that we don't just make a scapegoat of the chief constable.""I think Sir Stephen House has a number of problems and if I was Sir Stephen House I would be considering my position this morning. However, it's important that we don't just make a scapegoat of the chief constable."
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie welcomed the review but said it should go further.Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie welcomed the review but said it should go further.
"With reports of police officers backfilling civilian posts, huge workload pressures and morale at rock bottom there is a strong case for a wider independent review," he said."With reports of police officers backfilling civilian posts, huge workload pressures and morale at rock bottom there is a strong case for a wider independent review," he said.
Calum Steele, from the Scottish Police Federation, told BBC Scotland: "My members and police officers up and down the length and breadth of Scotland are working harder and are busier than ever before. Calum Steele, from the Scottish Police Federation, told BBC Scotland: "I suppose all of this highlights that human beings do make mistakes. Of course we try to make sure that we design systems to prevent those mistakes being made, the unfortunate thing is that human beings are fallible."
"I suppose all of this highlights that human beings do make mistakes. Of course we try to make sure that we design systems to prevent those mistakes being made, the unfortunate thing is that human beings are fallible."