Police Scotland has opened an internal inquiry into the way officers handled an incident involving a Faslane worker – the same morning he was reported missing.
Josh Gayton, who served at the naval base on the Clyde, was handed a fixed penalty notice by officers for urinating in public in Helensburgh just after midnight on April 16.
The 21-year-old was last seen speaking with a member of the public at around 12.25am outside the Riva restaurant on West Clyde Street, before being reported missing.
The Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence police had aided police in searches by land, sea and air in the area, with the public urged to check outbuildings and sheds.
On Sunday evening, Police Scotland said that a body was discovered at around 6.20pm in the water off Helensburgh and that Mr Gayton’s family had been notified.
Formal identification of the body has still to take place.
The incident has been referred to Police Scotland’s Professional Standards Department, which oversees disciplinary matters, complaints and the conduct of officers.
Guidelines issued by the force state that they will automatically refer certain serious incidents to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner when “direct or indirect” contact with the police is the cause or contributory factor in someone’s death.
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