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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.

3 October 2019

Police Scotland host delegation from Norwegian colleagues

Police Scotland recently hosted a delegation from the Norwegian Police Service as part of an established and ongoing relationship.

In the latest of a series of visits, the group of senior officers met Assistant Chief Constable John Hawkins on Thursday 26 September 2019 at the Scottish Police College, Tulliallan, to discuss Police Scotland’s experience of reform. They then visited Livingston Police Station to see policing in action with a focus on local service delivery and partnership working between the police service and key partners, in a co-located setting. Police Scotland’s International Development and Innovation Unit (IDIU), working with officers and staff across the service, deliver support to help keep people safe across the globe, deploying officers and staff globally as well as hosting groups of visitors here in Scotland. Our service has a very high worldwide reputation and this is one example of where other police professionals are learning with and from us to help deliver the best service possible.

https://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2019/10/police-scotland-host-delegation-from-norwegian-colleagues/

Michael Gove ‘ignored Scottish plea to see Brexit policing plan’

Scotland’s justice secretary is angry that police were “blindsided” by ministers at Westminster who refused to share sensitive Brexit planning.

Humza Yousaf wrote a month ago to Michael Gove, minister for no-deal planning, seeking clarity on public order preparations but had no reply. Will Kerr, deputy chief constable for local policing, said on Tuesday that Police Scotland had been denied access to plans to handle civil disruption. The force has only seen arrangements that are heavily focused on the south of England, with little recognition of Scotland’s position, he said.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/michael-gove-ignored-scottish-plea-to-see-brexit-policing-plan-qmx0xcpdv#

Scotland beefs up international and border policing as it braces for No Deal Brexit

Scotland’s Chief Constable has beefed up his international and borders policing units as he braces his force for Brexit. Iain Livingstone is desperate to maintain crime-fighting links with the rest of the continent after the UK leaves the European Union, perhaps as early as the end of this month. Senior officers and politicians have long warned about the dangers of losing access to Europol, the EU centre co-ordinating investigations and intelligence.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17942568.scotland-beefs-international-border-policy-braces-no-deal-brexit/

Scotland set to be first in UK to ban smacking

Smacking children could be made illegal in Scotland today if MSPs vote to change the law to ban their physical punishment.

The smacking ban is set to be voted on by the Scottish Parliament and would give children the same protection from violence as adults by removing the defence of justifiable assault in Scots law. The Bill, introduced by Scottish Greens MSP John Finnie, faces its final vote on Wednesday, with the former police officer calling for cross-party support for the “vital legal protections for Scotland’s children”. Removing a parent’s right to hit their child would bring Scotland up to international standards, Mr Finnie has argued, adding: “Physical punishment has no place in 21st century”. Ahead of the vote, Mr Finnie MSP said: “This evening the Scottish Parliament has the opportunity to show courageous leadership by putting in place vital legal protections for Scotland’s children.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17943898.scotland-set-first-uk-ban-smacking/

Family of fallen Scots officer meet cop who completed charity cycle in his memory

A policeman who completed a 220 mile charity cycle in memory of a fallen Scots officer has been reunited with the late constable’s family. 

Nick Jones was given a blue wristband engraved with the details of PC Andrew Greenshields whilst taking part in the annual Police Unity Tour challenge in July. 

The Scots constable, 50, tragically lost his life after suffering a heart attack whilst on duty for the former Edinburgh City Police in December 1950.

After seeing some of his fellow riders meeting the families of other fallen officers, the 39-year-old decided to launch a social media appeal to find PC Greenshields’ loved ones.

Within 48 hours, he had managed to find the officer’s daughter, Davina Macdonald, who was just 11-years-old when he father passed away. 

On September 14, PC Jones travelled from his home in Wrexham, North Wales, to Kinross to personally deliver the wristband to PC Greenshields’ family. 

PC Nick Jones with Davina Macdonald

Mrs Macdonald, 80, said: “When I first found out that Nick was looking for us, I was very surprised but very touched.

“I was quite emotional about the fact that somebody was thinking so deeply, not just taking the bracelet and doing the cycle. I thought it was such a lovely thing for him to do. 

“Even though it’s been many years and I was only 11 when my father passed away, he was just such a special figure in our lives as children.

“Our mother, we could wind her round our little finger but by father didn’t need to be angry, he just needed to raise his eyebrows and that was all we needed.

PC Andrew Greenshields

“This wristband will be something that we treasure and my grandsons will look after it once I pass it on to them.

“Nick has said that he would like to do the cycle in memory of my father again next year and I think it would be absolutely fantastic. 

“For somebody who is a complete stranger way down in Wales, and yet he has feelings enough to want to do that again.”

The Police Unity Tour, which sees supporters ride hundreds of miles before reaching their final destination at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, aims to raise funds for a vital charity.

Care of Police Survivors (COPS) was set up to support families of officers and staff who have lost their lives on duty. 

Mrs Macdonald added: “When I see what COPS does now for families, I just think that I have to support that as much as I can because I know how difficult it was for my mother to bring up two young girls on her own. 

“In no way does it substitute for the loss but at least it makes things a little bit better materially for the families.”

The wristband for PC Andrew Greenshields

After meeting Mrs Macdonald, her daughter Shona McKay, 39, and grandson Sam McKay, seven, last weekend, PC Jones said: “Some of my colleagues met the families of the officers that they had ridden for and were giving them the wristbands so it just didn’t seem right that I still had this one. 

“I just thought that it wasn’t really for me to keep and that I should try and find the officer’s family to pass it on. 

“It was unbelievable how quickly I was able to find the family. It was almost overnight which I hadn’t expected but it just shows the power of social media. 

“To finish like this, meeting his family, just means the world. I’m really glad I got the chance to give it to them.”

PC Jones was hosted by the Scottish Police Federation during his trip to see Mrs Macdonald.

PC Nick Jones, Davina Macdonald and SPF general secretary Calum Steele.

Glasgow man admits ordering pet dog to attack police officers

A Glasgow man has admitted ordering a Staffordshire Bull Terrier to repeatedly bite police officers who were trying to arrest him. 

Gordon Finlayson, from Govanhill, appeared from custody at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Friday, where he pled guilty to four charges. 

The 35-year-old admitted assaulting two female police officers on Cathcart Road on August 19 after they were called to the scene. 

He repeatedly kicked one female constable to her injury before repeatedly biting the other on the body.

Finlayson also pled guilty to being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control in a public place and commanding it to repeatedly bite the officers. 

He also admitted assaulting a member of the public at Naveed Premier Store by seizing hold of him by the neck and punching him on the head. 

No further details of the incident were read out during the short appearance but Finlayson’s defence lawyer told the court his client did not have “a great deal” of previous offending.

Mr Kilcoyne said: “Mr Finlayson has been known to me for some time and I do know that the offences back in 2010 were alcohol related.

“Mr Finlayson has a difficulty in that when he abstains, he is a law-abiding citizen but as soon as he drinks alcohol, things go very badly wrong. 

“He was in full-time employment and has been throughout his adult life but he lost his employment shortly before this.” 

Sheriff Mary McCrory deferred sentence for background reports until October 18 and released Finlayson on bail.

She said she would also decide if the dog should be destroyed at the next calling of the case.

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.”

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