Police / Police assault concern for community safety chairman
THE CHAIRMAN of Shetland’s community safety and resilience board has again expressed concern at the number of assaults on police officers recorded in the isles.
Councillor Allison Duncan also said it was “absolutely despicable” for people to spit on officers.
There have been a number of cases calling at Lerwick Sheriff Court in recent months involving people assaulting or struggling with police officers.
Duncan brought up the issue at Wednesday’s community safety and resilience board meeting and said he was “very concerned”.
He said it should never happen to officers in the course of their duty.
Orkney local area commander Scott Robertson, who is currently covering Shetland ahead of a new permanent chief being put in place, said he shared the concern.
“I don’t think it’s fair that anybody who is coming to their work to do a job has the threat of assault hanging over them,” he said.
He said there has been an “unacceptable” level of police assaults in Shetland, despite figures being down on last year.
“For me one assault is one too many,” Robertson added.
The police chief said in recent years officers have been encouraged to report assaults, even if they are very minor, which is perhaps why numbers have risen in recent years.
This could include attempts to spit at an officer or trying to punch one but missing.
Generally figures for 2023/24 show that offences in relation to any assault have decreased by 27 per cent (29 fewer crimes) against a five year average.
Duncan also expressed disappointment at figures for drink or drug driving in Shetland.
There were 26 instances recorded in 2023/24 which is above the five year average of 22.2.
Robertson said the trend nationally these days is an increase in drug drivers.
Robertson also told the meeting that Shetland will be the first of the Scottish islands to have drug wipe training for officers.
He said this will enable officers to test for drugs “right at the side of the road”.
There has also been an increase in drugs possession offences but Robertson believed this is partly down to the success in detection, such as through Dogs Against Drugs.
Robertson also noted how alcohol would have been a factor in “quite a number” of the crimes recorded in Shetland in 2023/24.
Despite some of the concern from Duncan, Robertson said the figures for 2023/24 were “pretty positive overall”.
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