The Scottish Police Federation represents all police officers in the ranks of constable, sergeant, inspector and chief inspector, police cadets and special constables; over 18,500 people, 98% of all police officers in Scotland.
Tayside officer who died on duty honoured at memorial event
Tributes have been paid to a “weel-kent” police officer who tragically died while on duty in Tayside.
Police constable Roy Buggins passed away while working in Montrose, Angus, on Tuesday September 3.
The 51-year-old, who had been a police officer for 29 years, was said to be looking forward to his retirement when he was honoured at the Scottish Police Memorial service at Tulliallan on Wednesday morning.
Paying tribute, Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: “Today’s service is particularly poignant.
“Only yesterday police constable Roy Buggins sadly passed away after taking unwell while discharging his duties in the town of Montrose in Angus.
“Roy had over 28 years service and was looking forward to retirement.
“He was a very experienced officer who worked throughout the Tayside area, most latterly in community policing and was held in high regard by his colleagues and indeed the local community.
“I know at this particularly sad time you will join me in sending the condolences of all us here and indeed the entire policing community.”
His name will now be added to the wall of the police memorial based within the grounds of Tulliallan.
The well-known officer was formally identified by Police Scotland on Wednesday.
A statement described him as a “highly valued and well-respected member of the Montrose and Brechin Community Policing team”.
Constable Buggins, who is survived by his wife and two children, began his career with the then Tayside Police in 1990 and was initially posted to Forfar.
He spent the next 29 years serving the division with spells in Friockheim, Carnoustie and a ten-year stint in Arbroath.
PC Roy Buggins had been a police officer for almost three decades.
Constable Buggins then returned to Forfar for a time where he became “an integral part” of the Montrose and Brechin Community Policing team.
He was well known in and around Montrose and Brechin, where he regularly attended events, often with his colleague PC Ally Hutchison.
The popular officer would also regularly visit schools and retirement homes while also speaking with the public at police surgeries and “Coffee With A Cop” meetings.
David Hamilton, Vice Chair of the Scottish Police Federation, worked with PC Buggins in Tayside Police’s Public Order Unit.
He said, “Roy was one of those solid, dependable guys who you wanted in your team.
“He had a sensible head and was somebody who had the respect of his colleagues and supervisors.
“In many ways he epitomised local policing- well known, well liked, hard working, fair and pragmatic. “He is a big loss to his family and friends, to policing and to his community.”
Maternity facilities open at G division stations following grant from Police Care UK
Private maternity facilities have been installed at several stations in G Division to help make the return to work for new mothers more comfortable.
The rooms have been completed at stations in Kirkintilloch, Shettleston, Cathcart and Drumchapel, which are now open for officers to use.
Work is continuing at Govan, Baird Street and Stewart Street police stations with the hope of having them completed by September.
Scottish Police Federation rep Chris Thomson, who works in G division, made an application to charity Police Care UK to help kit out the seven designated rooms.
He was successful and the funds were used to purchase suitable furniture which will hopefully help make the return to work for maternity/breastfeeding officers easier.
Greater Glasgow Division added the finishing touches by supplying the paint for the walls.
Maternity facilities in Kirkintilloch
Sergeant Thomson said: “The return to work for new mothers can be difficult because they can be off for quite a long period of time, potentially up to a year.
“It can also bring some issues, particularly if they’ve been unwell when they’ve been on maternity leave.
“Also, whilst nearing the end of their pregnancy, working can be particularly challenging and tiring for female officers so we hope these rooms will help support our officers to be comfortable at work for as long as possible.
“Some officers come back when they are still breastfeeding so they’ve obviously got to express milk while at work to then take it home.
“There are allowances for that but there was absolutely nothing set in place for that.
“A lot of the time, officers were coming back and there was just no facilities for them to be able to express. The only place private was the toilets for them to use.
“Police Care UK is an amazing charity and I became aware of a welfare fund that they had for all over the UK.
“All you have to do is put an application in to get money. So I had an idea that wouldn’t need a lot of money.
“All we needed was seven rooms set aside by the division.
The facilities at Drumchapel
“I put together the application and Police Care UK approved it so they supplied the furniture. “The paint was paid for by the division, so it was a joint effort.
“They’re not big fancy rooms. This was an easy fix. It didn’t take a lot of work, it was a relatively small amount of money but the difference it will make is huge.
“Often I feel we try and focus on the big problems which take longer and more difficult to fix.”
He added: “The rooms can be used sensibly by other people who may need a quiet, private space for certain medical conditions too.
“This will be communicated to officers in the division, particularly supervisors, so we can increase their knowledge in risk assessments for pregnant officers at the same time.
“We want it to be there for its primary use but understand they can be used sensibly.
“The divisional reps will inspect the rooms monthly to make sure there aren’t any issues and that they’re not being misused.
“If this is successful then there is no reason other divisions cannot replicate the facilities.”
Violent attacks on Scots police officers reach five-year high
Assaults on police officers in Scotland have hit a five-year high with more than 1600 attacked in just three months.
Police Scotland have reported a 10 percent increase in the number of assaults on cops between April and June compared to the same period last year.
A total of 1498 attacks on officers were recorded last year but this rose to 1649 in the first quarter of 2019.
The latest figures also showed a massive increase in the number of violent attacks in the west command area of Scotland with a rise of 22.1 percent.
A total of 845 assaults were recorded during the three month period last year but this rose to 1032 this year.
Almost half of the attacks from the west took place in the Lanarkshire and Greater Glasgow police divisions.
Saturdays were found to be the peak day for assaults, particularly between 8pm and 1am.
While the number of police assaults recorded fell for the north and east area, by 12.6 and 1.2 percent respectively, the overall figures for attacks on cops still showed a significant rise.
The figures also showed that assaults on Scottish emergency workers continue to increase and have gone up by 8.7 percent to 1929 this year.
A report detailing the latest figures will be presented at a board meeting of the Scottish Police Authority on Wednesday.
Calum Steele, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said that officers were regularly being targeted by armed individuals.
He said: “These figures simply tell us what police officers have known for some time – that is that instances and levels of violence they face is increasing and doing so exponentially.
“As more police officers are assaulted, the levels of the injuries they sustain are also increasing in severity.
“Encountering criminals with knives and other weapons is a daily occurrence and yet politicians continue to make cheap political points over officers’ safety equipment while our colleagues get maimed and injured with increasing regularity.”
Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said: “Our officers find themselves dealing with dangerous situations on a daily basis to protect the people and communities we serve and are trained to a high level to deal with violent and confrontational situations.
“But being assaulted is not simply part of the job.
“No assault on a police officer can ever be tolerated and Police Scotland has a legal and a moral duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our people.
“Each assault will be investigated with the same care, compassion and commitment as an assault on a member of the public and the best evidence secured to support prosecution.
“We are considering new ways, including taking learning from elsewhere in the UK, to ensure we provide the best support to our people.”
Police Code Zero
After the success of Channel 5’s Police Code Zero: Officers Under Attack, they will be back for a second series and are looking for police officers to share their story and raise awareness of the assault’s officers deal with every day.
The production company are looking for incidents that have been caught on camera when officers have come under attack and have put out a radio call for urgent assistance.
Any officer who would be interested in taking part should seek permission from Police Scotland before applying.
If you wish us to pass your details to the production company you can do so through this form
Police officer left unable to hold her baby after being smacked around the head up to 30 times by violent thug
A brave police officer was left unable to hold her baby daughter after a violent thug battered her around the head up to thirty times.
PC Alison Laughlan had been responding to a street brawl in Maple Drive, Johnstone, on March 31 when Adam McManus launched the assault.
As the officer attempted to arrest the 26-year-old, who had already assaulted two of his neighbours in front of a child, he broke free and unleashed a vicious attack on her and her colleagues.
She was beaten around the head multiple times by the construction worker, who had a handcuff attached to one wrist.
Despite being hit with a baton and sprayed with Pava, McManus continued to fight officers and rugby tackled PC Laughlan before spitting in her face.
The vicious thug has now been jailed for three years after admitting four charges against him at Paisley Sheriff Court including assault to severe injury on PC Laughlan.
During sentencing, Sheriff Colin Pettigrew said: “Blows to the head, whether by punch or kick, can unfortunately be fatal.
“That they were not in this case was fortunate but you gave no thought to that.
“When the police arrived, your behaviour did not stop. If anything, it escalated.”
He also ordered McManus be placed under 12 month supervision following his release from prison due to the risk of harm he poses to the public.
MEDIA TODAY
13th September 2019
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