By Graeme Pearson, former head of Scottish Drug enforcement agency
Policing is an increasingly dangerous profession.
People generally don’t expect to go to work and be injured whilst performing their duties. Unfortunately the reality for an increasing number of police officers, men and women, is otherwise. The statistics speak for themselves and reflects a upward trend recording injury, sick days, stress and for some officers ongoing losses of confidence to continue on front line duties.
It is important all staff have confidence in the SPA and its ability to identify the means to reduce injuries and associated problems going forward. But many officers already understand the underlying causes for the rise in assaults.
The threats come from three categories of prisoner. Some habitual criminals will take all steps available to avoid arrest. Within some communities they will gang together to resist police officers making an arrest or resolving an incident. Criminals know the presence of one or two officers is unlikely to see reinforcements appearing for some time. They therefore take their chances and use violence if they think it will work.
Next, threat comes from those people who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. People who normally might behave responsibly can under the influences of substances react unexpectedly and with substantial violence in police presence.
Finally, those who suffer mental illness and are alone or outwith their normal medication regime can respond with violence when confronted by police officers. These circumstances can ignite unforeseen violence as officers respond to a routine call or incident. Each situation can therefore only be made more challenging when prisoners need to be escorted substantial distances to be incarcerated.
The restructuring of police in the absence of true reform has witnessed shortages in those officers allocated patrol and response duties particularly at night and weekends. This is despite a 43 year low in crime and 17237 officer establishment. In addition the weight and clumsy nature of the kit officers carry makes it difficult to chase and hold a suspect effectively. There is a question around the nature of equipment and associated training (so often cut to the bone). Finally officers must be confident that the Justice system will support them when assaults occur. Custody for accused, early trial resolution followed by imprisonment when appropriate is important for officers’ morale. Deal with these issues and assaults on police will fall but never end - Policing is just that kind of job.
** GRAEME PEARSON, is a former police officer and Director General of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency
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