​Two year police investigation leads to foodbank founder's arrest

The founder of one of Scotland’s largest and most high-profile foodbanks has been charged with fraud.

Julie Webster, who ran Greater Maryhill Foodbank, was arrested on Monday following a two-year investigation by Police Scotland.

The 40 year old is being investigated over a four-figure sum of cash.

Maryhill Foodbank closed its doors on 25 March after its running came under scrutiny from multiple directions.

A 40-year-old woman was charged in connection with alleged fraud offences

Glasgow City Council dropped support for it and ordered schools to cut ties, citing concerns over financial irregularities and a probe was started by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.

It was subsequently evicted from its premises over rent arrears.

The Scottish Government cut it loose in February after it was found to have “failed to comply with grant conditions.”

It claimed to have provided emergency food for almost 30,000 people since it opened in January 2013.

For many, the foodbank became totemic and came to symbolise Glasgow’s response to austerity and it gained the backing of celebrities such as Frankie Boyle and Kevin Bridges.

However, it was dogged with controversy, including a high-profile spat with another – and now defunct – emergency food operation, Glasgow’s Needy, as was exclusively revealed in TFN.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "On August 16 2016 a 40-year-old woman was charged in connection with alleged fraud offences.

"A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal."

No date has been set for Webster's court appearance.