By Gemma Fraser
Head of content
A charity rugby match held in memory of a much-loved police officer has raised more than £4,700.
Jurgen Wahle died from a heart attack last September, aged 51.
The “larger than life character” was a well-known face in the north-east, where he served both as a police officer and as a volunteer for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in Peterhead.
A keen rugby player all his life, the charity match was a fitting tribute to Jurgen, while also raising money for the British Heart Foundation.
Former colleagues teamed up to compete against a side from Robert Gordon’s College, where the father-of-two went to school.
The Grampian Police RFC veterans went up against Gordonian RFC veterans at the Aberdeen Wanderers’ pitch on the city’s Groats Road, where the latter took the win.
An auction with prizes including a Scotland away top signed by Finn Russell and a signed photo of Sir Bobby Charlton helped bring the fundraising total on the day to £4,736.
Tributes were paid to Jurgen from policing colleagues, as well as the wider Peterhead community, where he was also a leader for Scout group Methlick Explorers.
Allen Shaw, chair of the Scottish Police Federation’s north area committee, told 1919: “Jurgen was a well-known face in policing both in A-division and criminal justice.
“A larger-than-life character, he passed away unexpectedly with a heart attack last September in Peterhead.
“Jurgen latterly spent a lot of time volunteering with the RNLI as well, predominantly based at Peterhead.
“He played rugby for the police team for years and will be missed.”
In a statement, RNLI Peterhead Lifeboat said: “Jurgs was a well-respected leader of the operations team at Peterhead, and his dedication to the Peterhead RNLI community over the years has been invaluable.
“His passing has come as a great shock to the lifeboat station and the wider RNLI family.”
The Methlick Explorers, where he volunteered for many years as a leader, thanked Jurgen for everything he gave.
The group added: “He had a kind spirit, was a good friend, and will be sorely missed by all.
“He has been taken from us all too soon and our thoughts and prayers are with all his loved ones.”
The youth group is planning to take part in the Aberdeen Kiltwalk in June in aid of the RNLI and in memory of Jurgen.
Members of Police Scotland’s north rugby team thanked everyone who “played, donated, watched and organised” the charity match, adding: “We couldn’t have done it without you”.
“Any police officer that goes to CICA has to fight far harder to prove that what they’ve suffered is actually a criminal injury as opposed to it being seen as being part of their job”
Caroline Macnaughton, Scottish Police Federation
The CICA is a UK-wide organisation set up to deal with compensation claims for victims of crime.
Awards range from £1,000 to £500,000 for people who have been mentally or physically injured, or sexually abused.
Those who caused the injury or abuse do not need to have been charged with or convicted of a crime – the authority is able to offer awards if the crime is reported to the police and there is enough evidence to show that the crime was committed.
It is understood PC Annand received two refusals over the eligibility of his claim, which he appealed, and the claim was subsequently re-sent to CICA to reconsider the criteria following a tribunal.
David Threadgold, chair of the SPF, said: “There is almost an acceptance now that police officers will be assaulted trying to serve our communities.
“As damaging as this situation is, when an officer is the subject of an assault that we believe meets the criteria for a claim through the CICA, the least that should be expected is a swift resolution of those matters.
“If the experience from our representatives suggests this is not the case, then a detailed review of the cause of this apparent pattern of extended delays should be undertaken to avoid this becoming the norm.”
Claims made to CICA do not have to be resolved within a set timescale, although the authority said 68 per cent of applications received a first decision within 12 months in 2023/24.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson told 1919: “We sympathise deeply with all victims of violent crime and know compensation can aid them in their recovery.
“The majority of cases are decided within 12 months, but more complex cases can take longer to assess.”