By Gemma Fraser
Head of content
Police officers are calling for better support and tougher punishments when they are assaulted on duty, claiming courts treat these incidents as “low priority”.
A Police Scotland survey has revealed a “strong sentiment” among officers that the judicial system does not “effectively penalise” those who assault officers, which is leading many to take the view that it is a waste of time reporting them.
One officer, who was knocked unconscious by a man he was trying to arrest, told 1919 that he now believes there is “no point” adding police assault to the charge book after his attacker walked away from court with just a £225 fine.
He said: “I’ve had multiple police assaults and that’s always the first thing that gets pled away.
“It gets to the stage where you don’t even add them because there’s no point. It’s a waste of time.
“You don’t think the procurator fiscal’s listening.”
His comments were backed up by colleagues who completed Police Scotland’s 2024/25 workforce survey.
After the initial results were published, survey provider Progressive Partnership undertook analysis of thousands of free text comments.
It shows that 35 per cent of respondents who commented were ‘dissatisfied’ by a lack of court action or punishment.
The report on the findings states: “Many respondents noted that assaults are often pled away or seen as low priority by the courts, leading to feelings of futility in reporting such incidents.”
It continues: “Analysis suggests there are deep-seated frustrations regarding the treatment of officers and staff who are verbally and physically assaulted in the line of duty, all highlighting calls for better support mechanisms, effective management engagement, and accountability within the justice system.”
Police Scotland said there is a focus on violence and abuse experienced by police officers and staff which is delivering “a clear message that violence and abuse is not simply part of the job”.
Chief Constable Jo Farrell has also raised the issue of assaults on police officers with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
However, speaking to 1919 on condition of anonymity, the officer who was knocked unconscious while on duty said the case against his attacker took two years before it finally concluded – and still did not bring him justice.
“Throughout the whole thing, the procurator fiscal didn’t ask me about any further injuries or anything like that. I’d went to the hospital because after the incident I was unwell for months.
“The Chief Constable said that [Police Scotland] is working on police assaults. Somebody’s got to have a bit of backbone and stand up to the courts and say ‘make this not be the first thing you drop’.”
Speaking at the recent Scottish Police Authority people committee, Patrick Brown, Police Scotland’s acting director of strategy and analysis, said the service is delivering “a clear message that violence and abuse is simply not part of the job”.
“We are actively raising this with the wider justice system, with the COPFS – the Chief Constable has raised this at a recent engagement with them,” he said.
A spokesperson from the COPFS said: “Assaults on police are reprehensible and we understand it may be frustrating for officers if charges are not pursued or punishment appears light.
“Violence against law enforcement is taken seriously by the procurator fiscal – almost 85 per cent of the charges of police assault reported to us have been prosecuted over the last five years.
“Prosecutors seek to secure an appropriate overall outcome to each case. That does not mean the seriousness of assaults on officers is dismissed even where they are not separately actioned.
“Where a case reaches a conviction, sentencing is set by the presiding judge.
“COPFS and Police Scotland have agreed a process by which prosecutors will, in every relevant case, provide the court with information on how an assault on a police officer or member of civilian staff has impacted the victim, the wider police service and the local community.”