NOTEBOOK

Round-up of policing and justice developments 

Scotland won’t follow UK in hiring private guards to help officers

Police Scotland will not follow the example of English forces in hiring private security teams to support frontline officers.

Companies such as Mitie are being used increasingly south of the border to supplement efforts in communities to tackle crime and retain order.

That included the deployment of private guards to assist in dealing with last summer’s anti-immigration riots.

However, in response to a request from 1919, the force in Scotland said no such approach was being taken here.

“Police Scotland does not, and over the last five years has not, engaged nor paid for private security assist in the policing of operations,” it stated.

Police approve £1m settlement payment

A one-off settlement of more than £1 million was reached in March in a case involving Police Scotland and “several pursuers”.

The sum of £1,070,000 was described in force accounts as “a very large litigation” and was approved by the Scottish Police Authority’s legal committee.

It is described in the papers as a “public liability claim”, although the identity of the recipients will not be revealed, as is normal for settlement claims.

In the same month, it was confirmed the family of Sheku Bayo had reached a settlement with Police Scotland. They had originally been pursuing the force for more than £1.8 million.

Derby day search initiative draws a blank

A high-profile campaign which gave police special powers to target trouble-making Edinburgh football fans resulted in no searches taking place.

The force implemented a one-off section 60 order, which meant officers could frisk Hearts or Hibs fans they suspected of planning disorder or carrying weapons and pyrotechnics.

The operation in March ahead of a derby match at Easter Road was introduced following a number of flashpoints in previous fixtures.

However, research by 1919 has revealed that on the day itself no fans were subjected to the measures.

Talks to boost drug-drive testing capacity

Discussions are underway which could allow police to access additional drug-driving testing capacity, with cases still running well above projections.

Officers successfully caught more than 2,200 drug-drivers in 2024, and cases continue to be around 18 per cent higher than the original capacity was designed for.

The forensics department got on top of the backlog by outsourcing hundreds of cases, ensuring proceedings can get underway within statutory timeframes.

But it is understood that, as a “medium term solution” and on the assumption cases do not drop, additional capacity is being investigated.

A police memo confirmed: “Once this is further developed a request for investment can be considered.”

10-year low for hate crime

The number of hate crimes in Scotland reached a decade-low last year, despite notable increases in certain categories.

Police recorded 6,227 incidents, the smallest in 10 years and an 11 per cent fall from the high point in 2014/15.

However, cases involving transgender identity soared in that time, from 53 to 161, while increases also occurred in disability-related hate crime.

Instances of racism have experienced a longer-term drop, with Scotland’s major cities remaining the most likely place for a hate crime to be recorded.

Stalking conviction for former police authority boss

A former convener of Scotland’s largest legacy police authority has been convicted of stalking.

Philip Braat, who convened Strathclyde Police Authority, pleaded guilty to a single charge in May and is expected to be sentenced later this month.

The 49-year-old is also a former Lord Provost of Glasgow and has been a councillor in the city since 2007.

He has been suspended by the Scottish Labour Party.

Victims rage at weakening of the bail system

New reforms which remove a presumption against bail for some violent offenders have been criticised by Scotland’s leading victims group.

The Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act came into force fully last month, and repealed measures which previously ensured those accused of violent, sexual or domestic abuse offences in solemn cases would be unlikely to be released.

Victim Support Scotland said the new system “does not go far enough to sufficiently safeguard victims of crime”.

Chief executive Kate Wallace added: “Now, without the additional protections, we have serious concerns that the new bail test will provide a sufficiently robust risk assessment prior to an offender’s release on bail.”

Big reduction in syringes handed out

The number of needles distributed to drug users has almost halved in the space of 17 years, new figures have shown.

Around 2.3 million syringes were handed out to addicts last year, compared to 4.4 million in 2007.

It is also estimated that the number of people living with an addiction to opioids like heroin in Scotland has reduced to around 43,400.

The lower figures come despite Scotland continuing to register by far the highest proportion of drug-related deaths in the developed world.

MSPs set to debate new domestic abuse laws

A bill which would introduce a domestic abuse register, similar to the one for sex offenders, has been published.

MSPs will debate and vote on the Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill in coming months after it was published by West Scotland MSP Pam Gosal.

The aim of the inclusion of a register is to force abusers to inform authorities of a change in circumstances, and to attach an additional layer of “shame” to the crime, campaigners say.

The bill also plans to bring in mandatory rehabilitation for anyone found guilty of domestic abuse, as well as education in schools and improved data gathering.

Half of shoplifters avoid charges

Fewer than half of shoplifting crimes in Scotland lead to charges, despite a sharp rise in offending.

Police recorded 183,486 shoplifting offences between 2019 and 2024, but only 43 per cent were passed to prosecutors. Just 20 per cent reached court.

The data, obtained by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, shows offences rose by more than a third, with Edinburgh and Glasgow worst affected.

Liam McArthur MSP said shopkeepers have been left vulnerable to “criminal gangs”.

The Crown Office said police only report cases with sufficient evidence, while ministers said £3 million has been allocated to tackle retail crime.

Force watchdog wants views on live facial recognition

Scots have been urged to share their views on whether police should be able to use live facial recognition technology.

The Scottish Police Authority has launched a “conversation” with the public, inviting them to fill in a survey with their views.

Live facial recognition is already used by police in some parts of the UK to help them identify wanted individuals more quickly.

However, concerns have been raised about ethics and legality, while others are concerned at the potential for the technology to be misused.

The survey can be found here.

Misogyny law plan dropped

Plans to introduce legislation to make misogyny a specific crime have been axed by the Scottish Government.

Ministers had intended to bring in a bill aimed at improving safety for women and girls.

However, questions were raised throughout the process about how the law would actually be enforced by police on the ground.

Instead, the government will seek to amend existing hate crime legislation to include aspects on sex.

Next article >>