Officers face action over missing man hunt failures

POLICE officers who failed to find a missing man for ten weeks before he was discovered dead in his own front garden are set to face disciplinary action.

Senior officers have launched an investigation into how the 64-year-old's body went undiscovered despite a massive manhunt involving dozens of officers.

Police chiefs would not reveal how many officers faced disciplinary proceedings, their ranks, or their role in the search operation.

But a police insider said any officers hauled before a disciplinary hearing could face action for "neglect of duty".

The internal probe was launched after force bosses received a report by Strathclyde Police, who were called in to conduct an external review of the Goulden case.

Police said that "some changes in procedure have already taken place" since the report was handed over earlier this year.

But the force refused to release the report to the Evening News under freedom of information laws, adding that it "would not be appropriate to make the details of the report public until the investigation is completed".

It is believed that the disciplinary inquest is being conducted by Deputy Chief Constable Tom Halpin.

A team of 19 officers were tasked with finding Mr Goulden, the father of an inspector from Lothian and Borders Police, who disappeared from his home in South Maybury last 30 August.

The inquiry made use of specialist units, including search teams, police dogs and handlers, a helicopter, an underwater diving team and mountain rescue.

Officers ran up an overtime bill of £15,000 on the case, with the total cost of the investigation believed to be "hundreds of thousands of pounds", according to a police source.

The former RAF serviceman's body was finally found in bushes in his front garden by a pest controller on 7 November. A postmortem examination found no suspicious circumstances.

Among the sanctions available during disciplinary hearings are warnings from either the deputy chief constable or an assistant chief constable, fines, pay cuts, demotions and sackings.

A police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm an internal disciplinary investigation is under way."

Strathclyde Police detectives carrying out the external review were expected to focus on how well, and often, the garden was searched to determine whether the blunder was due to human error or a breakdown in procedure.

A police source, who has worked on missing persons inquiries, believes the garden should have been searched at least three times under standard procedures.

The Strathclyde review could result in an overhaul of the force's tactics during such investigations if serious failings turn out to be identified by their west coast colleagues.

THE SEARCH FOR ALAN GOULDEN
30 August: Alan Goulden is seen in vicinity of Maybury Road. He is reported missing by his wife later that night.

2 September: Police appeal for help to trace Mr Goulden.

3 September: Police launch a poster campaign.

4 September: The grounds of Lauriston Castle are searched as fears over his safety grow. It emerges he is a diabetic, and has left his supply of insulin in the house.

6 September: Police question bus passengers and pedestrians in Maybury. They also talk to 200 drivers.

11 September: A search of Cramond Island is carried out after potential sightings are reported.

15 September : Police diving teams search the River Almond.

20 September: Police question people at a bus stop on St John's Road, after sniffer dogs trace Mr Goulden's scent there.

3 November: Police widen their poster campaign to hotels and B&Bs across Scotland.

7 November: Mr Goulden's body is found in his garden.

12 December: Police reveal Strathclyde Police are conducting an independent review of the case.

15 May: Police reveal a disciplinary investigation is under way.