A Scottish police force has been officially branded as "institutionally arrogant" over its conduct of a 10-year dispute with the family of a man found dead in a Caithness harbour.
Northern Constabulary has been involved in a bitter row with the parents of Kevin McLeod since the 24-year-old was found drowned at Wick in February 1997.
Yesterday, Jim Martin, Scotland's Police Complaints Commissioner, effectively ordered an end to the dispute in his most damning report to date.
Mr Martin told Chief Constable Ian Latimer to make an early, personal and unreserved apology to Hugh and June McLeod for the way his force handled a series of complaints about its investigation into their son's death.
Police have insisted the death was an accident but Mr and Mrs McLeod suspect that their son was murdered.
The McLeod family yesterday responded to Mr Martin's report by demanding that Mr Latimer resigns.
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