Public confidence in policing is at risk of being ‘eroded’ by claims that senior officers who are accused of misconduct are getting preferential treatment, Justice Secretary Neil Gray said.

He spoke of his concern about a perception that ‘standards are not applied consistently’ on disciplinary matters which can ‘undermine trust in the process’.

It comes after a watchdog said in May that police chiefs are failing to reach 'expected standards of professional behaviour'.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) also revealed the force had failed to report all allegations of senior officer wrongdoing to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA).

Officials at the SPA, the civilian oversight body for policing, also 'sought advice from other senior officers within Police Scotland about how to progress concerns involving their peers'.

Speaking at the annual conference of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, Mr Gray said said: ‘The recent HMICS assurance review of discipline and conduct provides an important and timely assessment of how the systems are operating in practice.

‘I have carefully considered its findings and while Police Scotland has established the right framework there are concerns over the perception that particularly senior officers might be treated more favourably and that standards are not applied consistently.

‘That perception goes to the heart of confidence, fairness and legitimacy, not only in the eyes of the public but of policing itself.

‘Where that belief is eroded, it does not just undermine trust in the process, it undermines trust in leadership.

‘It is therefore essential that both Police Scotland and the SPA demonstrate that they are learning from these findings and responding in a timely and transparent way.’

The Mail revealed yesterday that Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs has been accused of sexual harassment by a female civilian worker who is taking the SPA and Mr Speirs to an employment tribunal.

HMICS said earlier this year that Police Scotland had requested its report on conduct and discipline be delayed to give it 'time to consider any potential implications for proceedings that are currently ongoing'.

This is understood to refer to a bullying investigation into Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors, who has been 'redeployed' to a job with the London-based National Police Chiefs' Council, despite the ongoing probe.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell, who spoke to ASPS members at their conference during a session where the media were barred, was accused by ASPS of 'undermining public confidence' in March by blocking the publication of the HMICS report until after May's election.

Commenting on the HMICS report in May, Police Scotland said it 'acknowledged commentary in the report around issues relating to senior officers' and it was 'considering carefully observations of what is a small evidence base'.

The SPA said ‘robust and effective complaint, conduct and discipline processes are essential to maintaining public trust and confidence in policing’.