Officer Sues Police Scotland, Warned Against Adding to Misogyny Cases After Tallia Storm Incident

Following a photo op with Tallia Storm, Greg Tunnock was removed from the firearms unit last year.

Another firearms officer is currently filing a lawsuit against Police Scotland, alleging gender discrimination after a contentious event with singer Tallia Storm, which was captured and shared on TikTok.

Today, Thursday, June 12, 34-year-old Greg Tunnock provided his account at the Edinburgh Employment Tribunal, following several days of testimony from his colleague, Steven Jones.

The lawsuit stems from an incident on March 1, 2024, when the two officers, while on duty at the Scottish Parliament, stopped their patrol car to take photos with Tallia Storm. Subsequently, Tunnock was removed from the firearms unit, an action he criticized in court as a “knee-jerk” response, according to Edinburgh Live.

Tunnock argued that his actions were misinterpreted as misogynistic and voiced that his superiors were primarily interested in maintaining a positive public image.

He explained, “I saw it as a brief, positive interaction with the community. The whole encounter lasted about a minute.”

In his lawsuit, Tunnock claims he was discriminated against based on sex, suggesting that a female officer in the same situation would not have faced similar repercussions. He recounted that his superior, Andrew Miller, expressed frustration over the incident, stating, “the last thing we need is another misogyny case in the firearms unit.”

Tunnock emphasized that permanent removal from a unit is highly unusual and contrary to Police Scotland’s ethos, which is to learn from errors rather than punish them outright.

Discussing the emotional toll of his removal, Tunnock shared, “It was devastating. I felt the decision was unfair and it made me physically ill.”

He also revealed that the stress led to his being signed off from work due to anxiety and depression, during which he endured such low points that he contemplated suicide.

During his medical leave, Tunnock claimed that a superior only visited him because of the potential negative publicity that could arise if he harmed himself, indicating a concern for the department’s image over his well-being.

Challenging the accusation of misogyny, Tunnock expressed shock and highlighted his personal ties to issues of controlling behavior within his family, which made the claim particularly upsetting.

He also criticized the hasty decision to remove him without a thorough investigation, labeling it “an inappropriate, knee-jerk reaction.”

In response to former assistant chief constable Gary Ritchie’s comments on June 11, criticizing the judgment shown during the incident, Tunnock argued that community engagement should not be equated with life-threatening decision-making.

He hoped that the photos with Tallia Storm would help bridge a connection with younger audiences, a group he felt Police Scotland often struggles to engage.

The tribunal, which started on Monday, June 9, is being overseen by Employment Judge Amanda Jones and is set to continue.