Police Scotland plans to find ways to improve officer safety after attempted murders against officers and staff rose by more than 50 per cent in a year.
The number rose from seven in 2024/25 to 11 in 2025/26, according to official Police Scotland statistics, an increase of 57 per cent.
Assaults on police officers and staff averaged 20 a day in 2025/26, at 7,509, a rise of 4.7 per cent on the previous year.
Scottish Police Federation general secretary David Kennedy said: “An attempt to take the life of a police officer is an attack not only on that individual, but on the rule of law and the safety of every community in Scotland.”
He added: “These incidents are another stark reminder of the increasing risks officers face while policing Scotland.
“Police officers continue to place themselves in harm’s way on behalf of the public, and they deserve not only our gratitude but the resources, support, and legal protections necessary to carry out that role safely.
“Those responsible for attacks of this nature must expect to face the full force of the law.”
Police Scotland now plans to draw up a report examining attempted murders and serious assaults against police officers.
Analysts will examine trends among the accused, incident circumstances, victim characteristics, and the criminal histories of perpetrators, alongside other factors.
The force will use the findings to assess existing safety measures and identify potential improvements to enhance officer safety, according to a report presented to the Scottish Police Authority’s Policing Performance Committee.
In June, a man who tried to kill a police officer by deliberately hitting him with a stolen car was jailed for 11 years.
PC Adam Brealey was attempting to stop Thomas Malone in Stenhouse, Edinburgh, in July 2024, when he was hit, causing serious injuries.
Malone pleaded guilty to attempting to murder PC Brealey, as well as several other charges, including the abduction of a teen.
In May, a man who hit a police officer with a car, throwing him around 15ft across the road, was jailed for four years and three months.
“An attempt to take the life of a police officer is an attack not only on that individual, but on the rule of law and the safety of every community in Scotland”
David Kennedy, Scottish Police Federation general secretary
Martin McGroary, 27, struck Inspector Jonathan Edgar on Herries Avenue in Dumfries on July 28, 2025, at around 1.20am.
Police were sent to the scene due to concerns regarding McGroary, who sped off and hit Inspector Edgar as he tried to reach the pavement.
Originally charged with attempted murder, McGroary pleaded guilty to culpable and reckless conduct to severe injury, as well as several driving offences.
Judge Lord Cubie told McGroary at the High Court in Glasgow: “You say that you feel horrible and horrendous and the victim was just doing his job.”
Earlier this year, a man was jailed for 10 years for using a chainsaw (main picture) in the attempted murder of a Police Scotland officer, which the judge compared to a “horror film”.
Liridon Kastrati, 32, was originally charged with attempting to murder four police officers but was found guilty following trial of attempting to murder PC Gary Cowan in Paisley in May 2024.
PC Cowan was in a marked police car which Kastrati rammed before brandishing a chainsaw at officers, and chasing PC Cowan with the power tool.
The police officer told the trial he thought Kastrati would “saw my arms off, chop my head off”.
Kennedy said incidents such as these “leave lasting physical and psychological effects that extend far beyond the immediate event”.
He added: “Every day, police officers across Scotland go to work not knowing what dangers they may face. They do so to protect the public, uphold the law and keep our communities safe.
“Violence against emergency workers is not, and can never become, an accepted part of the job.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police leaders send a clear and consistent message that assaults on officers and staff are absolutely unacceptable. It is not part of the job and it is important we report any violence against emergency service workers and hold those responsible to account.
“There has been a year-on-year increase of reported assaults against officers and staff in 2025/26. It is something we keep under close review, to ensure we are doing all we can to support our people.
“Crucially, the injury rate has seen a consistent decline and the health and safety reporting rate has increased, suggesting we are building a culture where people are more likely to report.
“This allows us to build a more accurate picture of what officers and staff are experiencing, which means we can identify trends and target areas to improve safety.
“We have also seen significant investment in operational safety training, the introduction of body-worn video, and officers equipped with Tasers, in a bid to reduce the risk of violence towards police.”