However, the family have rejected preconditions which Mr Latimer previously indicated would need to be satisfied before he attended a meeting.

He also says he does not have to say sorry to Kevin's relatives – as he insists he has already done so.

Mr Latimer was responding to a fresh call for him to give an "unreserved apology" for the way his force mishandled complaints made by the family in the wake of the tragedy in February 1997.

It was one of the main recommendations made in the findings of the probe by Scottish Police Complaints Commissioner Jim Martin, which were published last Friday.

Kevin's parents, Hugh and June McLeod, and his uncle Allan McLeod are adamant that Mr Latimer has never personally apologised to them for blunders made in the initial inquiry into the death and for shortcomings in the force's fielding of the battery of complaints lodged by the family.

In his report Mr Martin agrees, indicating that expressions of "professional regret" fall short of what is required.

Allan McLeod yesterday: "We look forward to getting an apology, as opposed to an expression of regret, which has a completely different meaning.

"We also look forward to having a meeting with Mr Latimer, which we hope will be open, honest and dignified, to discuss the whole case and hopefully rebuild our relationship with the force."

Mr Latimer in September made it clear that any meeting would be dependent on a number of preconditions, including a pre-set agenda and mutual agreement over what information about it goes into the public domain.

That was deemed unacceptable by Mr Martin and has also been rejected by the McLeods.

As fully reported in last week's John O'Groat Journal, Mr Martin examined how Mr Latimer and his force had responded to a series of recommendations made in a previous review carried out by Chief Constable Andrew Cameron of Central Scotland Police.

Mr Latimer said: "Mr Martin does not feel that an adequate apology has been made to Mr and Mrs McLeod by the force. I feel I in fact did this when I apologised to the family and expressed my professional regret publicly on April 4, 2003, and again privately in a letter dated February 3, 2007.

"On behalf of the force, I again offer my apology in regard to the force's failings and shortcomings in dealing with Mr and Mrs McLeod and the investigation into the tragic death of their son."

He added: "I have offered to meet with the family to underline the force's apology and I have now intimated this to the family. I hope that, by doing this, the force can rebuild its relationship with the family."

Mr Latimer rebutted the charge by Mr Martin that Northern Constabulary had exhibited "institutional arrogance" in its dealings with the McLeods. The chief constable maintained that he and his officers had sought throughout to respond to the family's complaints in a professional manner.

"I have personally written to Mr and Mrs McLeod on numerous occasions with regard to matters they have raised and continue to do so," he said. "My staff and I have attempted to deal with Mr and Mrs McLeod with the utmost professionalism and as recently as Wednesday two of my senior officers met with the family."

Mr Latimer stated: "I welcome the report and note the recommendations and, in particular, welcome the commissioner's finding where he comes to the conclusion that he does not require any further review of how Mr and Mrs McLeod's complaints were handled."

He added: "It is pleasing to note that Mr Martin has accepted that the force has discharged the vast majority of the recommendations made by Mr Cameron."

Mr Latimer said the overhaul had addressed any shortcomings that had arisen as a result of dealing with Kevin McLeod's death and the subsequent complaints by the family.

The revamped procedures for crime management and complaints-handling, he said, had passed muster during recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary.

Northern Joint Police Board, meanwhile, has offered to apologise to the McLeods for the way they have been treated.

The board chairman, Councillor Norman Macleod, said: "We wish to express deep sympathy to the McLeod family for the sad loss of their son Kevin.

"It is acknowledged that aspects of the investigation into Kevin's death could have been handled better. However, as a consequence of this, a number of service improvements have been implemented by the force.

"On behalf of the board we express regret for the distress this has caused and extend our sincere apologies to the McLeod family for this."

Mr Macleod said the board is to offer to meet the family when it will seek to answer any outstanding questions and apologise for the manner in which their complaints were handled.

"The Northern Constabulary is a high-performing and well-led force which enjoys wide-ranging support," he added. "The board continues to work closely with the chief constable."

In the meantime, the family are reflecting on two notable successes in their long-running crusade to secure justice for Kevin.

"We've had two victories this year," said Allan McLeod, who is June's brother. "We used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain Andrew Cameron's report into how Kevin's death was investigated and how our complaints were deal with. Now we have this damning report from Mr Martin."

He went on: "Getting our third victory will be the most important – that is to help secure the arrest and conviction of those people we believe murdered Kevin. Our solicitor informed us that he is confident that this will eventually be the outcome.

"In all of this, it must not be forgotten that the people responsible for Kevin's death are free to roam the streets."

The family are encouraged by a letter they received from the Crown Office yesterday, indicating that any new evidence surrounding Kevin's death should be passed on to Northern Constabulary or the local procurator fiscal's office.

Allan McLeod said: "This gives us a massive lift as it shows that the case is not closed. Mr Latimer continues to maintain that Kevin's death was an accident and wants to draw a line under the case – but this response from the Crown Office proves it is still open and live."

iain-grant@ukf.net

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