A watchdog investigating Police Scotland’s infamous Counter Corruption Unit has heard damning claims the secretive division acts like a modern-day “Gestapo”.

Eleven serving officers met Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary (HMICS) last week to complain about their alleged treatment by the "rogue" CCU.

One officer said members of the CCU "threw colleagues up against a wall", while a female officer said the Unit threatened to take her children off her when she was pregnant.

Set up in 2013, the CCU is manned by senior detectives and tasked with rooting our dirty officers from the force.

However, the Unit has become discredited due to its own unethical activities in the last twelve months.

As revealed by the Sunday Herald, the CCU unlawfully used its spying powers in a bid to establish whether serving and retired officers had passed information to the media.

It has also attracted unwelcome publicity over allegations officers were persecuted over alleged data protection breaches.

The spying scandal led to HMICS - led by Derek Penman - to announce a review of CCU which may lead to its abolition.

On Wednesday, 11 officers who are represented by solicitor Aamer Anwar met Penman to discuss their concerns about the CCU.

The Sunday Herald has been given a list of statements made at the meeting.

One officer told Penman: “The CCU were a group of people who, between 2009 to 2013, made a career out of stitching up police officers.”

A woman officer in her 40s said: “These people blatantly neglected their duties.”

The meeting also heard allegations about heavy-handed tactics deployed by the CCU. One officer said: “They threw colleagues up against a wall, they would threaten them and if anyone dared complain nothing would be done about it, but you would be told your cards were marked.”

A male officer stated: “My mother did not want to give a statement and the CCU detained her. She had a fit and had to be taken to hospital.”

Another member of the service alleged: “They turned up at my house and smashed the door in. I told them my Missus was about to give birth. I was on annual leave and I was detained. If they did that to a member of the public they would be arrested and out of a job.”

A female officer claimed: “The CCU threatened to take my kids off me when I was six weeks pregnant.”

A CID officer with over 15 years’ policing experience told Penman: “We lived in a stats-driven bean counting culture – working to create figures all the time. It created a warped environment as the CCU tried to justify their existence.”

Another officer said data protection probes were used as a last-resort for the CCU: “If they couldn’t get you on something they made sure they got you on a breach of the Data Protection Act.”

A uniformed officer said "underhand tactics, threats of bullying and a culture of fear is what the CCU is about".

One of the eleven claimed: “The CCI have a hitlist of cops to go for.”

A uniformed officer went further: “They run the CCU like the Gestapo – a secret service. They are above the law.”

The HMICS probe is expected to be published before the end of the month.

Anwar said: “I am grateful to Mr Penman for agreeing to meet with myself and eleven police officers who have been the alleged victims an abuse of power by the CCU. It was essential that such views do form part the HMICS review into the CCU if it is to be robust and thorough. It really is time that this unit was disbanded not just in name but replaced by a unit which is truly transparent and accountable.

“What Mr Penman heard of in the meeting was allegations of systematic criminality which have destroyed the lives of law abiding police officers. The Scottish Government and new Chief Constable need to act now and stop this rogue unit operating beyond the law.”

Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: "I am in active dialogue with HMICS regarding their assurance review - which was requested by the Scottish Police Authority - and I am in the process of commissioning a full review of how we counter corruption, having recently taken on responsibility for that area.

"We are fully committed to considering any recommendations which emerge from the HMICS review. I will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure both the public and the police service have confidence in our approach.

"All officers in Police Scotland are expected to perform their duties to the highest professional standards. As the public would expect, any allegations of criminality or misconduct concerning police officers are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly."