A suspended Labour MSP has denied allegations he positioned a secret digicam in bathrooms within the Scottish parliament.
Colin Smyth has been charged by police in relation to the allegation, in accordance with the PA information company.
The South Scotland MSP was arrested on 5 August and charged with a separate offence of possession of indecent photographs, for which he was suspended from Scottish Labour.
His cross for Holyrood was deactivated on Thursday.
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On Friday, Smyth stated he was “totally cooperating” with the investigation however stated the police’s choice to launch additional info and his dwelling tackle had been “devastating”.
“This allegation has come as an utter shock and one I strongly refute,” he stated.
“For authorized causes, I am unable to reply to particular issues or hypothesis, and I admire there’s a course of to undergo which I’m, in fact, totally cooperating with. However I sincerely hope it may be concluded shortly and pretty.
“The hypothesis, and the current choice by the police to publicly launch particulars of their ongoing inquiries together with my dwelling tackle has been devastating and has taken a critical toll on my well being.
“After my tackle was printed with no warning to my household, I felt I had no selection however to maneuver away to guard them. That has additionally meant shedding the native NHS important assist I had been receiving for the previous few weeks, making an already troublesome time much more distressing.”
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‘No covert recording gadgets discovered’
The Scottish Parliament presiding officer Alison Johnstone confirmed Police Scotland had carried out a sweep of the constructing following the allegations and “no covert recording gadgets have been discovered”.
Ms Johnstone stated: “We are able to affirm that Police Scotland, with our assist, have performed a full sweep of all bathrooms and altering rooms in our constructing and that no covert recording gadgets have been discovered.
“We have now additionally instructed that enhanced further checks to our present safety sweeps of the constructing happen going ahead.”
Smyth was elected as an MSP in 2016 and returned to Holyrood once more within the 2021 election.
He’s now listed as an unbiased on the Scottish parliament web site.
Scottish Labour says ‘swift motion’ taken
A spokesperson for Police Scotland stated: “On Tuesday, 5 August 2025, officers executed a warrant at a property on Marchfield Avenue, Dumfries.
“A 52-year-old man was arrested and charged in reference to possession of indecent photographs. He is because of seem at Dumfries Sheriff Court docket at a later date.”
A Scottish Labour Occasion spokesperson stated: “Swift motion was taken after we turned conscious of those critical allegations. Colin Smyth MSP is an unbiased MSP.
“We can not remark additional on these deeply regarding developments whereas authorized proceedings are ongoing.”
