POLICE Scotland have launched a formal investigation into potential criminality involving SNP fundraising.
The force, which has been assessing a fraud allegation from a member of the public since late March, said it had escalated its work after consulting with prosecutors.
It has asked "anyone who has any information which may assist with this investigation" to get in touch.
The move follows the SNP raising more than £660,000 since 2017 specifically to fight an indyref2 campaign, but spending some of the money on other things in the absence of another independence vote.
The party has now pledged to spend an “equivalent" sum on a second referendum, but refused to formallly identify this money in its annual accounts for 2020.
READ MORE: New SNP treasurer to be quizzed by NEC over £600k raised for indyref2
In March, three members of the SNP’s finance and audit commmittee quit amid complaints about being denied access to the accounts.
In May, new SNP treasurer Douglas Chapman MP also quit, complaining a lack of transparency had stopped him carrying out his “fiduciary duties”.
SNP MP Joanna Cherry QC quit the party’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee, the same month, again citing issues with transparency and scrutiny.
Treasurer Colin Beattie MSP later insisted “amounts equivalent to the sums raised” would be spent on campaigning in future.
Until now, Police Scotland has said it has been assessing “a complaint of alleged financial irregularity”.
READ MORE: SNP treasurer pledges £600,000 appeal cash will be spent on indyref2
Last month it added: “During this initial work further information has been received which also requires to be assessed to determine if an investigation is required."
Today, the force updated its statement.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Police Scotland has now received seven complaints in relation to donations that were made to the Scottish National Party.
"After assessment and consultation with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, we will now carry out an investigation.
"Enquiries are continuing and anyone who has any information which may assist with this investigation is asked to contact police."
READ MORE: SNP's new national treasurer releases statement on £600,000 for indyref2
Activist Sean Clerkin, who made the initial police complaint, said: “I’m very pleased the police have proceeded to a full criminal investigation so that all facts can be investigated and appropriate taken when the investigation is completed.”
Scottish Conservative Chief Whip Stephen Kerr MSP, said: “The SNP have failed to be fully transparent over this funding for months. Senior figures have resigned from the party’s executive committee over the matter but the SNP leadership have still not addressed these serious claims.
“The public to deserve to know the truth. It is only right that Police Scotland are stepping up their investigations having received numerous complaints.
“The police must be allowed to explore every aspect of these complaints to ensure they get to the bottom of this increasingly murky situation.”
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: "I very much welcome the news that Police Scotland has launched an investigation into the claims of impropriety regarding donations to the SNP.
"For many months the SNP has been embroiled in internal fighting and recriminations over this most serious of matters.
"The truth must be known, and Police Scotland must be allowed to carry out a thorough and detailed investigation."
An SNP spokesman said: “We will cooperate fully with any investigation. As we have made clear, all sums raised for independence campaigning will be spent on independence campaigning.”
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