Police constable Alan Greer, who died by suicide in May while under investigation, has been identified as a serial rapist after an anti‑corruption inquiry prompted by a 2012 complaint. Detectives have so far identified nine victims, including five sex workers, and have seized multiple devices containing thousands of explicit files. Police Scotland says more victims are likely to emerge and urges anyone affected to come forward for support and investigation.
Police Constable Alan Greer Identified As Serial Rapist After Anti-Corruption Inquiry
Assistant Chief Constable Lynn Ratcliff said the inquiry had been "truly shocking" [BBC]
Police constable Alan Greer, who died by suicide in May while suspended and under criminal investigation, has been revealed as a violent serial rapist responsible for a series of sexual assaults and attempted murders stretching back at least 14 years, a BBC-led investigation and Police Scotland inquiry have found.
Greer's first known attack dates to 2012, when a woman in Glasgow says she was raped in her home after calling police to report an unrelated disturbance. Her decision to come forward late last year triggered one of Police Scotland's largest anti-corruption inquiries and prompted a detailed examination of Greer's actions and devices.
Investigation Findings
Detectives have so far identified nine victims: the 2012 complainant plus eight other women, five of whom were sex workers. Investigators recovered thousands of explicit images and videos from devices seized in an April search of Greer's home, and say the material and other intelligence indicate Greer used hundreds of sex workers throughout his policing career. Authorities expect further victims to be identified as they continue to examine seized files.
"This officer has clearly abused his power," said Assistant Chief Constable Lynn Ratcliff, the investigation's gold commander, describing the findings as "truly shocking." She urged anyone who believes they may have been a victim to come forward and assured them of support and a thorough investigation.
How the Inquiry Unfolded
The anti-corruption unit (ACU) used the 2012 victim's statement to trace the original call and the officers who attended the scene. A review of police computer logs showed one officer repeatedly accessed the woman's file in the weeks after the assault, including while on annual leave. Those searches provided a critical lead that eventually identified PC Alan Greer as a suspect.
When investigators obtained a mobile number linked to Greer, they matched it to an earlier piece of intelligence from 2018 in which a Glasgow sex worker described a violent customer using that number. Although police say they are satisfied that appropriate action was taken in 2018, that intelligence formed a second strand of evidence and justified further technical monitoring that captured additional suspicious searches and activity.
On the morning of 24 April, officers executed a warrant at Greer's family home and seized seven mobile phones and a laptop. Greer was arrested on suspicion of the 2012 rape, fingerprinted and had DNA taken; he was suspended and released pending further inquiries but was not interviewed. As investigators reviewed his devices, the scale of offending became apparent.
Wayne Couzens murdered Sarah Everard after kidnapping her under the guise of an arrest [Met Police]
Victims, Evidence and Legacy
So far, five sex workers have been identified as having been seriously sexually assaulted; investigators say the level of violence in some cases would have warranted attempted murder charges had Greer been alive to face prosecution. Three other victims have been identified, including two female officers whose images Greer took inappropriately while they were training.
Specialist teams from other units, including the major incident team, have been brought in to support the ACU. Police say the inquiry will take many months as thousands of files are sifted and pseudonyms and multiple phones are traced.
Welfare checks on Greer's family were carried out on 5 May by social work staff and local officers; Greer died by suicide the following day. Police announced his death internally and noted he died while suspended and under criminal investigation.
ACC Ratcliff stressed that vetting procedures in Police Scotland have changed since Greer joined in 2009 and that he would not pass current checks. She also said investigators will continue to review whether any earlier opportunities to detect his offending were missed and will capture lessons learned from the inquiry.
Police encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim to come forward. Support and information are available via specialist victim services and organisations such as BBC Action Line.
Production/additional reporting: Kevin Anderson and Carla Basu. If you have information related to this investigation, contact the relevant police or investigative journalists handling this story.
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