A suspended Labour MSP has denied allegations he positioned a secret digital camera in bathrooms within the Scottish parliament.
The South Scotland MSP was arrested on 5 August and charged with a separate offence of possession of indecent photos, for which he was suspended from Scottish Labour.
His go for Holyrood was deactivated on Thursday.
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On Friday, Smyth stated he was “fully cooperating” with the investigation however stated the police’s resolution to launch additional info and his residence deal with had been “devastating”.
“This allegation has come as an utter shock and one I strongly refute,” he stated.
“For legal reasons, I can’t respond to specific matters or speculation, and I appreciate there is a process to go through which I am, of course, fully cooperating with. But I sincerely hope it can be concluded quickly and fairly.
“The hypothesis, and the latest resolution by the police to publicly launch particulars of their ongoing inquiries together with my residence deal with has been devastating and has taken a severe toll on my well being.
“After my address was published with no warning to my family, I felt I had no choice but to move away to protect them. That has also meant losing the local NHS critical support I had been receiving for the past few weeks, making an already difficult time even more distressing.”
‘No covert recording units discovered’
The Scottish Parliament presiding officer Alison Johnstone confirmed Police Scotland had carried out a sweep of the constructing following the allegations and “no covert recording devices have been found”.
Ms Johnstone stated: “We can confirm that Police Scotland, with our support, have conducted a full sweep of all toilets and changing rooms in our building and that no covert recording devices have been found.
“We have now additionally instructed that enhanced further checks to our current safety sweeps of the constructing happen going ahead.”
Smyth was elected as an MSP in 2016 and returned to Holyrood once more within the 2021 election.
He’s now listed as an impartial on the Scottish parliament web site.
Scottish Labour says ‘swift motion’ taken
A spokesperson for Police Scotland stated: “On Tuesday, 5 August 2025, officers executed a warrant at a property on Marchfield Avenue, Dumfries.
“A 52-year-old man was arrested and charged in reference to possession of indecent photos. He is because of seem at Dumfries Sheriff Court docket at a later date.”
A Scottish Labour Party spokesperson said: “Swift motion was taken after we grew to become conscious of those severe allegations. Colin Smyth MSP is an impartial MSP.
“We cannot comment further on these deeply concerning developments while legal proceedings are ongoing.”
