NOTEBOOK

Round-up of policing and justice developments

Police camera inaction saves cash for force

Delays in the supply of body-worn cameras for officers have provided police accounts with an unexpected financial boost.

Latest figures reveal a failure to roll out the technology meant the force had an additional £600,000 in its latest balance.

The financial report also shows the shortage in frontline officers continues to save Police Scotland huge sums.

The £5.8 million saving most recently identified was offset to some extent by almost £3 million in overtime costs to plug the gaps.

‘Institutional racism’ coaching receives cool response

Police officers who were given training following accusations of “institutional racism” have issued mixed feedback from the sessions.

The courses were introduced in the wake of remarks by former chief constable Sir Iain Livingstone that the police service was racist and discriminatory.

However, following the sessions, one officer reported back: “I have never been made to feel so demoralised or offended after a training input. Whatever failings the organisation is accused of should be levelled at senior management and not sergeants and inspectors.”

Another wrote they would like to see “the data that supports” the claims.

But one said: “It was an eye-opener and I enjoyed and learned from the session.”

Young robbers schooled in capital crackdown

Police in Edinburgh worked with schools to help trace youths involved in city centre robberies. 

Transport cops had been alerted to a number of incidents taking place near the capital’s largest railway station.

The area at Waverley Steps and Waverley Market has been linked with young people engaging in anti-social behaviour.

As a result, police worked with local schools to identify suspects, and those responsible for robberies have now been tracked down.

More would-be cops turned away after vetting

The proportion of prospective police officers rejected after checks rose last year, a report into vetting has stated.

In 2023/24 bosses considered nearly 8,000 vetting applications, of which 743 were refused. 

The turn-down rate of 9.3 per cent is higher than the year before, when 8.6 per cent of applications failed.

The report added that Police Scotland had reviewed its “tolerance levels” in relation to areas like finances and external associations.

Barked up the right tree

A screensaver photo of two distinctive dogs helped officers track down the victim of a phone theft.

Police in Edinburgh put out an appeal after a raid at a property in the city where they suspected a mobile device had been stolen.

They uploaded the photo of the terrier-type dogs to social media in the hope someone would recognise them and, by association, the owner.

Calls mount for rural rescue

Calls made to police requesting a mountain rescue team have reached a five-year high, new figures have revealed.‍

There were 1,193 call-outs in 2023, a rise of more than a third since 2019.

Experts say more awareness campaigns are required to ensure hillwalkers are prepared for their journey, and do not embark on adventures they are not equipped for or capable of. 

The team in Lochaber received the most calls last year, with 156 separate incidents recorded, followed by the Tayside base with 116.

Drop in crime on Scotland’s trains

Recorded crime on Scotland’s railways fell in the second quarter of this year, statistics have shown. 

Between July and September there was a six per cent drop, including considerable decreases in violence and incidents involving weapons.

The solve rate for the Scottish division of the British Transport Police (BTP) of 46 per cent is the highest in the UK.

A BTP report also stated disruption incidents on the tracks, and the scale of delays caused as a result, were running lower than last year.

Low fine rate for city’s 20mph zones

Just one fine was issued in Edinburgh last year to a driver breaching the city’s 20mph speed limits.

The capital introduced the zones in 2018, with advocates arguing it would save lives in residential areas.

However, critics said it was a stunt that would increase congestion and be widely ignored by motorists.

Now it has emerged, following a freedom of information request, that only 18 speeding fines have been issued since 2021 in the 20mph areas.

Last month, 1919 revealed the Welsh Government had sought advice from Police Scotland about public attitudes to the zones as they prepare for their own roll out.

Consultation on new domestic violence measure…

A law ensuring a ‘lessons learned’ review takes place after every domestic violence death in Scotland could be introduced.‍

MSPs want to hear views on the plans, which represent the latest toughening up of abuse legislation in Scotland.‍

Under this new consultation, statutory reviews would happen in an attempt to stop similar incidents happening in future.

Criminal justice committee convener Audrey Nicoll said: “We want to know if the lessons learned reviews are the best approach in attempting to reduce incidents of this nature.”

… as abuse cases rise

An incident of domestic violence was recorded by police every 10 minutes last year.‍

The 63,867 cases represented an increase on the previous year, and the third highest on record.

‍Dundee was the worst area for domestic abuse, while the vast majority of victims were women attacked by men.

Scottish Conservative MSP Pam Gosal, who is taking a prevention of domestic abuse bill through parliament, said urgent changes are required, including the introduction of a register similar to that for sex offenders.

“My members’ bill would mean many of those convicted of domestic abuse would face the shame of being put on a register, something that would increase deterrence and place potential victims in a much stronger position,” she said.