New probe into police officer hit-and-run

A NEW investigation into the handling of a fatal hit-and-run accident involving a police officer was launched today.

Father-of-three Martin Douglas, 41, from Niddrie, died after being hit by a black Toyota near the Playhouse Theatre as he walked home with wife Lisa in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

It later emerged that the driver of the car, who initially continued on his journey before later returning to the scene, was a police constable who had just finished a shift nearby.

The 25-year-old officer was later charged in connection with the crash and a report sent to the procurator fiscal’s office, but those charges were dropped in April.

Now Central Scotland Police have been drafted into examine the response of Lothian and Border Police, with their probe set to examine why the officer was not breathalysed.

Martin’s widow Lisa said: “Hopefully at long last we will get the answers we are looking for.”