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EXCL: We can reveal a major police investigation into care home deaths is actively underway in Scotland.
'Operation Koper' is gathering evidence on ALL notified care home deaths
@Channel4News understands some care workers have already spent hours being questioned by police.
'Operation Koper' is gathering evidence on ALL notified care home deaths @Channel4News understands some care workers have already spent hours being questioned by police.
@Channel4News has seen a leaked document of extensive questions police are asking care homes in relation to each inidividual COVID death.
There are 37 questions on everything from PPE supplies to infection control procedures and even floorplans.
There are 37 questions on everything from PPE supplies to infection control procedures and even floorplans.
Care homes even have to detail which government guidance they were following on any given date.
We understand Care Homes initially had just 7 days to provide huge amounts of information and corroborating documentation to the police. The deadline is now 14 days.
Operation Koper evidence gathering could lead to Fatal Accident Inquiries or even prosecutions.
@scottishcare says it's causing 'extreme emotional distress' for carers at a time when they are trying to protect residents from a second wave of deaths.
@scottishcare says it's causing 'extreme emotional distress' for carers at a time when they are trying to protect residents from a second wave of deaths.
Scottish Tory Leader @Douglas4Moray says he welcomes the police investigation but says the Scottish Government should provide answers on care home deaths in a public inquiry.
I asked Douglas Ross if it was hypocritical of him to call for a public inquiry into care home deaths in Scotland when his colleagues in Westminster are refusing to agree to any such inquiry at all.
( @scotgov says it supports some from of COVID inquiry at an unspecified date)
( @scotgov says it supports some from of COVID inquiry at an unspecified date)
@Douglas4Moray says his position is ‘consistent’ in that he believes UK and Scottish Governments should be accountable and learn lessons on care home deaths.
@NicolaSturgeon said she didn't think now was the time to hold a public inquiry into care home deaths while officials were responding to the pandemic.
I asked if the same applied to frontline carers who are being questioned by police while responding to a pandemic.
I asked if the same applied to frontline carers who are being questioned by police while responding to a pandemic.
@NicolaSturgeon said she couldn’t comment on the investigation.
I asked @NicolaSturgeon whether @ScotGov should be held to the same standard as carers, who are answering questions about care home deaths right now mid-pandemic.
She said government should be held to a higher standard if anything and insisted she didn't 'evade scrutiny'.
She said government should be held to a higher standard if anything and insisted she didn't 'evade scrutiny'.
Police Scoltand are gathering evidence for Operation Koper on instruction of the Crown Office. So far 309 deaths are under investigation but my understanding is the scope is to investigate all 2,000+ care home deaths in Scotland. A huge undertaking.
Alan Wightman, whose mum Helen died in a Scottish care home, said he welcomed the police investigation but his priority is for a public inquiry. He wants government to learn lessons of deaths in care homes before it's too late.
Here are the leaked documents: https://twitter.com/c4ciaran/status/1319295394707243013
Story produced as ever by the always excellent @luciajwalker 
