By Gemma Fraser
Head of content
Prisoners convicted of violence against the police must not be eligible for early release through emergency legislation to ease overcrowding in jails, bodies representing officers in Scotland have warned.
The Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS) and the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) have joined forces to launch their new campaign, Assault the Police? No Early Release.
Attacks against police officers and staff have risen steadily in recent years, which has been described by ASPS as a “deeply concerning problem”.
In 2024/25 alone, more than 7,159 assaults were recorded – an average of nearly 20 per day.
And it has emerged that in the current financial year, 90 per cent of assaults recorded against emergency service workers in Scotland were against police officers – up around 11 per cent.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance described attacks on officers as “absolutely despicable”.
But Chief Superintendent Rob Hay, ASPS president, said: “We need a proper deterrent against what is becoming an escalating and deeply concerning problem.
“Police officers are not robots. We must also remember that behind every assault number is a human being – mothers, fathers, husbands, wives and partners, and sons and daughters”
Chief Superintendent Rob Hay
“The physical injuries sustained from being assaulted can be serious and long-lasting.
“Violent crime in Scotland is up throughout our communities – more than 16,000 such attacks so far this year – and the people bearing the brunt of this rise are Scotland’s hard-working and brave police officers.
“This is becoming the worrying reality for every police officer – that every police officer sadly gets assaulted. The psychological impact is often more insidious and enduring: repeated exposure to violence erodes morale, breeds anxiety, and undermines confidence in the criminal justice system.
“Both rob our service of the availability of officers, straining our capacity. Our officers rightly expect that those who attack them will be held accountable and face appropriate consequences.
“Police officers are not robots. We must also remember that behind every assault number is a human being – mothers, fathers, husbands, wives and partners, and sons and daughters.”
It emerged last month that Scotland’s prison population hit an all-time high of 8,430, surpassing the previous record set in 2012.
Two previous schemes have resulted in the early release of almost 800 prisoners, while plans for a third round could see the release of a further 1,000 prisoners between November and April.
Prisoners who are not eligible for early release under the scheme include those serving a life sentence and those in prison for a domestic abuse offence or subject to sexual offender notification requirements – but ASPS and the SPF are campaigning for this to be extended to include those who have been violent to police officers and staff.
Hay has written to Justice Secretary Angela Constance to express his concerns and ask for the move to be considered.
“The independent courts, rightly, have extensive powers to deal robustly with assaults”
Justice Secretary Angela Constance
He has also called for data to be made available on exactly how many people serving time for assaulting police officers have or will be released early.
David Threadgold, SPF chair, said: “As the Scottish Government’s only response to an ever-increasing prison population seems to be the early release of prisoners – who, as acknowledged by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, have had limited, if any opportunity for rehabilitation within the prison estate – it is even more imperative that an appropriate deterrent to those who assault police officers should be in place.
“This government must consider the impact on my colleagues of being exposed to repeated and unsustainable levels of violence in the workplace and provide confidence to police officers, and the public across Scotland, that they take this matter seriously.”
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “Attacks on police officers are absolutely despicable and my thoughts are with anyone affected. The independent courts, rightly, have extensive powers to deal robustly with assaults.
“I understand concerns from victims, including any police officers who have been assaulted, about the emergency release proposals. This is not a decision I have taken lightly but it is necessary to tackle overcrowding and keep prison staff safe.
“Public safety remains my paramount concern. Only individuals serving short sentences of under four years who are already due for release within six months will be eligible and prison governors will have a veto on an eligible person’s release if they believe they pose an immediate risk to specific individuals or groups.”
Police Scotland launched its ‘not part of the job’ campaign in 2020 to outline its commitment to tackling assaults on police officers and staff.
