NOTEBOOK

Round-up of policing and justice developments 

Mental health calls place increasing burden on officers

The number of complaints received about police from the public has dropped by more than a quarter, new figures have shown.

The 2,806 grievances submitted in the six months to September is a six-year low when compared to the same period across other years.

All major command regions recorded reductions, with the most significant decrease in the east. 

The North East division is the area with the highest rate of complaints, followed by Fife.

Renfrewshire and Inverclyde received the fewest.

Airgun convictions halve

The number of people charged and convicted under new airgun legislation has plummeted, prompting criticism from opposition MSPs.

Ministers changed the law requiring anyone in possession of the weapons to first hold a licence.

At the time, the Scottish Government estimated there could be half a million air guns in circulation.

That saw convictions rise to almost 100 per year, but they have since fallen to around half that.

Liberal Democrat MSP Jamie Greene said: “People need to understand airguns are not toys. The Scottish Government believes there are hundreds or thousands of these guns yet your chances of being prosecuted for owning or using one illegally is minimal.”

Driver fatigue contributes to 14 road deaths…

Driver fatigue was a factor in 14 fatal road accidents in Scotland since 2020, new statistics have shown.

Although not formally published, Police Scotland was able to provide details on more than 200 incidents where tiredness was noted in officer reports as a reason for the crash.

The figures peaked in 2023, although they are on track for 2025 to be significantly lower than most previous years, according to the research by 1919.

As well as the 14 fatal accidents, fatigue was recorded as being at play in 86 serious accidents and 104 collisions determined as “slight”.

… while motorbike deaths hit five-year high

The number of motorcycle fatalities reached a five-year high, despite widespread efforts to improve safety awareness.

New figures have shown there were 27 deaths on Scotland’s roads where a motorcyclist was the victim, in the year to September.

That is two more than the previous year, and led to the unwanted record.

The east and north of Scotland have recorded “strong evidence of an upward trend”, while seven riders were killed in August alone.

Police Scotland said new data on where and when fatalities occurred will be used to focus future safety campaigns.

DCC suspended

Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors was suspended by the force last month following allegations about her conduct.

It was reported that bullying allegations were made by officers and civilian staff.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Police Authority said in December: “The authority’s complaints and conduct committee has taken the decision to suspend a senior police officer following receipt of conduct allegations which have been referred to the Police Investigations and Reviews Commissioner for consideration.”

Constance survives

Justice Secretary Angela Constance has clung on to her job, despite breaking the ministerial code.

The SNP minister was accused of misrepresenting an expert’s position on public inquiries into grooming gangs.

The Scottish Government’s independent advisers concluded that breaches of the code were inadvertent and “without any deliberation or intention to mislead”.

First Minister John Swinney has stood by his colleague throughout the row.

Blade-runners

Police Scotland has made more than £12 million transporting abnormal loads for construction and the energy sector.

New figures reveal officers have attended thousands of escorts over the last decade.

Many of the payments relate to the moving of giant wind turbines across small roads in rural Scotland.

Specially trained officers are usually called upon to oversee the operations on their rest days.

Portobello’s lucky number

An Edinburgh community which recently agreed to buy a historic police station will not have to pay a penny for the deal, it has been confirmed.

Portobello Police Station will be transferred to local group Action Porty for a cut-price £500,000.

And campaigners have now confirmed the whole sum will be covered by the Scottish Land Fund, a government initiative run in partnership with the National Lottery.

As revealed in 1919 last year, the 27-room Georgian seafront structure will become a space for a variety of community purposes.

It is understood police officers in the area will still have access to some of the space.

Police Scotland announced it would sell the building in 2024.

Pressure of self-harm calls on paramedics is revealed

Ambulance crews have attended tens of thousands of calls relating to attempted suicide and self-harm in the last five years.

The scale of the problem was revealed following a Freedom of Information request by 1919.

It shows there were 8,154 incidents last year, an increase from the previous year, though still below the high of 11,000 in 2020/21.

A new recording system was implemented by the Scottish Ambulance Service in June 2024 in a bid to improve data gathering.

Annie Wells, Glasgow MSP for the Scottish Conservatives, said: “Suicide is a tragic waste of life and it is on all politicians to turn the tide on this travesty.”

Well-earned rest for crime-fighting Maxine

A leading figure in retailers’ ongoing battle against shoplifting has retired after almost three decades of campaigning.

Maxine Fraser stepped away as chief executive of Retailers Against Crime shortly before Christmas, having joined the organisation in 1998.

Over that time she has brought shopkeepers across Scotland together, sharing data and driving the issue of aggression against retail staff and theft up the agenda.

She said: “I knew that retail crime was not victimless, a belief that has only strengthened as I have witnessed its impact on people, businesses and communities.”

She will be succeeded by Stephanie Karte.

Kingdom comes top in cop assault rise

The number of police assaults in Fife rose by almost half in the past year, amid a smaller nationwide increase.

New data shows eight of the 13 local police divisions experienced a spike in attacks on officers.

The Kingdom recorded by far the biggest proportional leap, with 101 additional incidents in the space of 12 months.

Officers in Lanarkshire also endured a 27.5 per cent rise in attacks.

Across Scotland, there were more than 4,000 recorded assaults on officers and staff in the year to September, the equivalent of 22 a day.

Police Scotland figures in King’s honours list

The Chief Constable was among the senior police figures to be recognised in the King’s New Year Honours list.

Jo Farrell received the King’s Police Medal, alongside Chief Superintendent Stevie Dolan and retired Assistant Chief Constable Andy Freeburn.

Serving constable Yocksan Bell was handed an MBE for his contributions to young people and missing persons.

And former chief executive of the Scottish Police Authority Lynn Brown was awarded a CBE for services to policing.

CC Farrell said: “I am personally, and on behalf of policing in Scotland, honoured and grateful to receive the King’s Police Medal.

“I also offer warm congratulations to Stevie, Andy, Yocksan and Lynn.”

Wonderwall of silence

A request for all correspondence between Police Scotland and other agencies relating to the sell-out Oasis concerts in Edinburgh last year has been rejected by the force.

A submission via freedom of information legislation for the details from all meetings and discussions was refused on the grounds of ‘prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs’.

Responding to 1919‘s request, Police Scotland said: “Information is exempt if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation.

“It is essential that there be some scope for privacy of discussion/ communication where it is assessed that disclosure would inhibit the ability of Police Scotland to discuss such matters freely with partners, in the future.”

The Oasis concerts attracted more than 200,000 fans over three nights in August, leading to a major policing operation.

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