Police Scotland

Police Service of Scotland
Seirbheis Phoilis na h-Alba
Common name Police Scotland
Logo of the Police Service of Scotland.
Motto Semper Vigilo (Always Vigilant)
Keeping People Safe
Agency overview
Formed 1 April 2013
Preceding agency
Employees 23,000
Volunteers 1,400 special constables
Annual budget £1.2 billion (fy 2013–14)
Legal personality Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
National agency
(Operations jurisdiction) 		Scotland
Map of Police area
Size 30,414 sq mi (78,772 km2)
Population 5,327,700 (2013)
Legal jurisdiction Scotland
Constituting instrument Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012
General nature
Operational structure
Overviewed by Scottish Police Authority
Scottish Government
Headquarters No. 6 Mar Place, Alloa, Clackmannanshire (temporary)
Police officers 17,318 full time
1,400 special constables
Others 5,600 police staff
Minister responsible Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Justice
Agency executive Sir Stephen House, Chief Constable
Neil Richardson, Deputy Chief Constable
Divisions 14
Facilities
Stations 214
Airbases Glasgow City Heliport
Vehicles 3,500
Helicopters 2 (Eurocopter EC135)
Website
www.scotland.police.uk

The Police Service of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Seirbheis Phoilis na h-Alba, operationally shortened to Police Scotland)[1] is the primary police service of Scotland. It was formed in 2013 with the merger of all eight territorial police forces in Scotland and the specialist services of the Scottish Police Services Authority, including the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency. Although not formally absorbing it, the merger also resulted in the winding up of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland. The British Transport Police Scotland Division is planned to be merged into Police Scotland sometime in 2016.

Police Scotland is the second largest police force in the United Kingdom (after the Metropolitan Police Service) in terms of officer numbers, and the largest in terms of area served. The Chief Constable is responsible to the Scottish Police Authority, and the force is inspected by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland.

Scotland is also served by the British Transport Police, the Ministry of Defence Police and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary within their specific jurisdictions. The National Crime Agency also has some jurisdiction in Scotland.

History

After a consultation process,[2][3] the Scottish Government confirmed on 8 September 2011 that a single police service would be created in Scotland.[4] The Scottish Government stated that "reform will safeguard frontline policing in communities by creating designated local senior officers for every council area with a statutory duty to work with councils to shape local services. Establishing a single service aims to ensure more equal access to national and specialist services and expertise such as major investigation teams and firearms teams, whenever and wherever they are needed."[5] The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill was published in January 2012[6] and was approved on 27 June 2012 after scrutiny in the Scottish Parliament.[5] The Bill received Royal Assent as the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012. In September 2012, Chief Constable Stephen House of Strathclyde Police was announced as the future first Chief Constable of Police Scotland. He was sworn into the post on 1 October 2012.[7][8] The first chair of the Scottish Police Authority, Vic Emery (then the convener of the Scottish Police Services Authority), was appointed in August 2012.[9]

As the date of formation approached, it was widely reported that the new Chief Constable and the Scottish Police Authority were in disagreement over the control of backroom staff.[10]

In February 2013 it came to light that the previously announced logo for Police Scotland could not be used as the Force had failed to seek approval from the Court of the Lord Lyon.[11] This new symbol, a stylised thistle upon a Scottish saltire shield, failed to meet the longstanding heraldic rules of the Lyon Court and was thus discarded. A permanent logo was not approved in time for the 1 April 2013 creation of Police Scotland, but the pre-2013 crowned thistle emblem was finally (re)introduced in July 2013. This emblem was originally designed for the former Dumfries Constabulary by Robert Dickie Cairns (1866–1944), an art teacher at Dumfries Academy.[12] With minor artistic variations, it was the same logo used by all regional Scottish police forces before 1 April 2013.[13]

Police Scotland officially came into being on 1 April 2013 under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, merging the following law enforcement agencies:

In June 2014 a leaked Police Scotland internal email to police managers in Dunfermline ordered a substantial increase in "stop and search" activities and warned any police officers not meeting the higher targets would be subjected to a performance development review. Police Scotland has previously denied setting stop and search performance targets for individual officers.[14] The next month, it was revealed that between April and December 2013, Police Scotland's officers stopped and searched members of the Scottish public at a rate of 979.6 per 10,000 people, a rate was three times higher than that of the Metropolitan Police Service and nine times higher than that of the New York Police Department. It was also revealed that the Scottish Police Authority, the body tasked with overseeing Police Scotland, had removed criticism of Police Scotland's use of "stop and search" powers from a report it had commissioned. Also removed from the report were calls for a review of stop and search on children and for clarification of the policy's primary aim.[15]

In October 2013 Police Scotland announced proposals to close 65 out of 215 police station public counters and reduce opening hours at others. Police Scotland cited a drop in the number of people visiting public counters and the development of new ways for the public to contact the police, including the 101 telephone number and contact points which connect callers at police stations directly to officers, as reasons for the proposed closures. The plans were condemned by some opposition MSPs.[16] It was also announced in October 2013 that the number of police control rooms in Scotland was under review, with the possibility of 7 out of 10 control rooms closing. Control rooms considered for closure include Aberdeen, Inverness and Dumfries.[17]

Organisation

Executive Team

All force executive officers are currently based in Stirling. The Assistant Chief Constables' salary depends on their previous experience and would normally fall between £90,000 and £106,000 a year.[24] In 2014, Executive officers of the force were awarded a £10,000-a-year pay rise.[25]

Ranks

Police Scotland uses the same rank structure and insignia as other police forces in the United Kingdom. The ranks of Constable, Sergeant and Inspector can be prefixed with the term "Police", which leads to the abbreviations of "PC", and, more rarely, "PS" and "PI". Normally, however, the "Police" is omitted as it is unnecessary, except for the abbreviations – especially PC. Detective officers of the ranks Constable to Chief Superintendent have their ranks prefixed with the term "Detective", e.g. Detective Constable (abbreviated "DC") and Detective Superintendent (abbreviated "DSI").

Rank Common abbreviation Salary[26]
Chief Constable CC £208,100
Deputy Chief Constable DCC £169,600
Assistant Chief Constable ACC £115,000
Chief Superintendent C/Supt £77,988-£82,272
Superintendent Supt £62,921-£74,322
Chief Inspector C/Insp £52,308-£54,459
Inspector Insp £47,256-£51,258
Sergeant Sgt £36,885-£41,451
Constable PC £23,493-£36,885

Local policing

Scotland is divided geographically into 3 regions - North, East and West, each headed by an Assistant Chief Constable. Under these are 14 Divisions, each covering one or a few local authority areas and headed by a Chief Superintendent. All divisional commanders are "people who came up through the ranks in that part of the country".[27] Divisions are further split into Areas under Chief Inspectors, and then into Wards under Inspectors. These are the same 353 wards used in local authority elections; every ward in Scotland has its own neighbourhood team and local policing plan.[28]

Officer numbers 31 December 2013 [29]

Police Scotland - Local Policing Personnel Resources
National Resources 1,363 Executive Team
West Regional Resources 1,364 ACC Wayne Mawson
Argyll & West Dunbartonshire L Division 570 C/Supt Helen Swann
Ayrshire U Division 862 C/Supt Gillian MacDonald
Dumfries & Galloway V Division 371 C/Supt Robert Moore
Greater Glasgow G Division 2,714 C/Supt Andy Bates
Lanarkshire Q Division 1,465 C/Supt Nelson Telfer
Renfrewshire & Inverclyde K Division 678 C/Supt Alan Spiers
Total West: 8,024
East Regional Resources 939 Temp/ACC Kate Thomson
Edinburgh E Division 1,180 C/Supt Mark Williams
Fife P Division 839 C/Supt Garry McEwan
Forth Valley C Division 633 C/Supt Davie Flynn
Lothians & Scottish Borders J Division 964 C/Supt Gill Imery
Total East: 4,555
North Regional Resources 584 ACC Campbell Thompson
Aberdeen City A Division 540 C/Supt Adrian Watson
Aberdeenshire & Moray B Division 592 C/Supt Mark McLaren
Highland & Islands N Division 632 C/Supt Julian Innes
Tayside D Division 968 C/Supt Eddie Smith
Total North: 3,316
Total Force: 17,258

Specialist Crime Division

The Specialist Crime Division (SCD) provides access to national investigative and intelligence resources for matters relating to major crime, organised crime, counter terrorism, intelligence, covert policing and public protection.[30] SCD comprises more than 2000 officers and targets individuals that pose the most significant threat to communities.[31]

Border Policing Command

Officers from Border Policing Command operate across the major airports in Scotland and undertake examinations and searches of passengers under the Terrorism Act 2000.[31]

Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit

Police Scotland has limited responsibilities when it comes down to counter terrorism, with the Metropolitan Police being the main force behind counter terrorism operations throughout the UK. However, the SCD does have counter-terrorism in its remit, and relies on daily support from several UK agencies, including MI5 and the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism at the Home Office.

Major Investigation Teams

Major Investigation Teams (MITs) are located throughout Scotland and are responsible for leading the investigation of all murder inquiries and large-scale and complex criminal investigations. Although each MIT will be responsible for investigating cases within its own area, where required they will be able to be deployed anywhere in the country to respond to need and demand.[32]

National Counter Corruption Unit

The National Counter Corruption Unit is the first of its kind in UK policing and works in partnership with the public sector to prevent corruption in publicly funded organisations. The unit also offers a specialist investigative capability. The unit is split into two teams, one focused internally within Police Scotland whilst a second team focuses on other publicly funded organisations.[33]

National Human Trafficking Unit

The existing Scottish Intelligence Coordination Unit and Strathclyde Police Vice and Trafficking Unit combined on 1 April 2013 to form the new National Human Trafficking Unit (NHTU).[30]

National Rape Taskforce

The investigation of rape and other sexual offences is a key priority for Police Scotland. National Rape Taskforce units are located in Glasgow and Aberdeen and work alongside Divisional Rape Investigation Units. They provide a national investigative capacity and a case review function.[32][33]

Prison Intelligence Unit

The Prison Intelligence Unit (PIU) provides an interface for the exchange of information and intelligence between Police Scotland and the Scottish Prison Service. The unit also develops and supports policy, procedure, planning, research, technology development, advice and communication between Police Scotland and the Scottish Prison Service.[34]

Licensing and Violence Reduction Division

The Licensing and Violence Reduction Division (LVRD) contains a number of miscellaneous functions including the titular alcohol licensing and violence reduction teams.

One of the higher-profile units within the LVRD is the Domestic Abuse Task Force (DATF). The DATF has a presence in each of the command areas as DATF (West), DATF (East) and DATF (North). The DATF (North) is unique amongst the three in having sub-offices in N Division (Highlands and Islands), A/B Division (Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire & Moray) and D Division (Tayside). The DATF has national responsibility for pro-actively addressing domestic abuse. Its divisional equivalents are the Domestic Abuse Investigation Units.

Operational Support Division

Roads Policing

Policing of Scotland's roads network is shared between 14 Divisional Road Policing Units (DRPUs) aligned with their respective Local Police Division which have the aim of achieving casualty reduction and wider operational objectives and a dedicated Trunk Road Patrol Group (TRPG) patrols the motorway and trunk road network. The TRPG operates from bases in Dalkeith and Stirling in the east, Glasgow, Irvine, Lockerbie and Motherwell in the west and Fort William, Inverness, Perth and Stonehaven in the north.[30]

Operational Support Unit

Six operational support units (OSUs) have been established to provide specially skilled officers trained in over ground search, public order and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) response. When not utilised in their specialist roles OSU officers are deployed in local communities focusing on issues as directed by demand. OSUs are based in Aberdeen, Inverness and Dundee (North), Edinburgh and Alloa (East) and Glasgow (West). Across the force area the OSU comprises a total of 6 Inspectors, 18 Sergeants and 172 Constables.[35]

Armed Response

Prior to the creation of Police Scotland, only urban areas had full-time dedicated firearms officers. Now all 14 local policing divisions in Scotland have their own dedicated armed response vehicle (ARV) teams. Throughout Police Scotland around 450 officers are trained in firearms.[36] Officers authorised in carrying firearms carry a Taser, a Glock pistol, and a Heckler & Koch MP5 carbine. Recently, Chief Constable Sir Stephen House authorised firearms officers to carry handguns in a holster while on routine patrol. Previously, firearms officers had to collect weapons from a locked safe in an armed response vehicle under the authorisation of a senior officer. Armed police officers can also now respond to incidents that are not firearms related. This has led to a large amount of controversy, especially from community leaders in more urban areas.

Dog Branch

The Dog Branch comprises 75 police dog handlers located throughout Scotland. Training has been centralised at the National Dog Training Centre in Glasgow.[35]

Air Support Unit

The Air Support Unit is based at Glasgow City Heliport and consists of one helicopter, owned and operated by Bond Air Services under contract. A helicopter crew consists of one civilian pilot and two police officer observers. The Air Support Unit was inherited from Strathclyde Police, the only police force in Scotland to possess such a unit at amalgamation in April 2013.[37] The Police Scotland and Strathclyde Police Air Support Units have suffered a total of three hull-loss accidents involving their aircraft, two of which resulted in fatalities.

Police Scotland currently has access to a loan helicopter (also a Eurocopter EC135, registration G-CPSH, formerly of the Chiltern Air Support Unit) from the National Police Air Service.

Marine and Underwater Unit

Two full-time units skilled in both underwater search and marine capability are based in Greenock (1 Sergeant and 11 Constables) and Aberdeen (dive supervisor and four Constables). A number of non-dedicated divers are retained across the country to provide additional resources within this specialism.[35]

Mounted Branch

The mounted branches of Strathclyde Police and Lothian and Borders Police were merged prior to the formation of Police Scotland. The combined branch now provides mounted support throughout Scotland. The mounted branch is based in Stewarton, East Ayrshire and has a strength of 22 horses.[35]

Mountain Rescue

Police Scotland operate four mountain rescue teams.[30]

Special Constabulary

Special Constables are unpaid volunteers who have the same police powers as their full-time counterparts when on duty. They must spend a minimum of 90 hours per year on duty and are unpaid, though a taxable "Recognition Award Scheme" payment of £1100 (after tax) is currently available for those Special Constables who work over 180 hours per year. The scheme is currently under review; a range of options are being considered in regard to the Recognition Awards Scheme but no final decisions have yet been taken regarding this. There are 1400 special constables throughout the force.

Special Constables undertake a new standardised comprehensive training program which normally runs over a course of at least 15 weekends or evenings. When on duty, they wear the same uniform as their regular counterparts. In some divisions they can be identified as Special Constables by their collar numbers and the 'SC' on their epaulettes although this is not the case across Scotland. Special Constables can be utilised in time of need, usually working alongside regular officers on neighbourhood teams, response teams and in the Specialist Crime and Operational Support Divisions.

Uniform and equipment

Police in Glasgow wearing the current uniform.

Uniform is currently being standardised across Scotland; some items were common across all of the legacy forces. Black body armour and black wicking shirts were issued across Scotland and remain as part of the Police Scotland uniform. A high visibility body armour cover with attachment points for items of equipment and black micro fleeces (worn under body armour) are now part of the standard uniform. Black trousers of varying styles are issued across Scotland.

Police Scotland Vauxhall Astra Estate in Edinburgh

Personal equipment consists of a police duty belt holding handcuffs, an expandable baton and CS spray. In some divisions this equipment is attached to body armour instead of being carried on a belt. Primarily in Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Lothians and Scottish Borders divisions (G, E and J divisions respectively), officers are issued hand held computers which are known as a Personal Data Assistant (PDA) instead of a pocket notebook. All Police Scotland officers when on duty are issued with Motorola MTH800 radios for use with the Airwave network.

Vehicles

Police Scotland has a fleet consisting of approximately 3,500 vehicles. This is soon to be boosted to 3750 with a recent contract between the Scottish Police Authority and Ford with the supplying of 124 Ford Focus Estates and 58 Ford Transit Customs. The vast majority of Police Scotland's high-visibility marked vehicles are marked up in a "half-Battenburg" style.

The most common marked patrol vehicle for response and neighbourhood officers has been the Ford Focus and the Vauxhall Astra, though vehicles used can vary around the country as they were inherited from separate forces; Ford Mondeos, Ford Transits, Ford Transit Connects, Vauxhall Vivaros, Vauxhall Insignia, Volkswagen Transporters and Mercedes Vitos are also included in the response and neighbourhood fleet.

For roads policing, the standard vehicles are Audi's A4 and A6, BMW's X5, 5 Series and 3 Series, the Land Rover Freelander, the Volvo V70 estate, the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Mitsubishi Outlander. The Operational Support Unit primarily use the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and the Iveco Daily as personnel carriers.

Specialist Crime Division officers tend to use semi-marked or unmarked hatchback and estate cars. Vauxhall Movano vans are also used, some acting as mobile offices. Some of these vehicles are modified for police usage with radios, lights, sirens and a 'run lock' facility enabling officers to take the keys out of the ignition without stopping the engine running, thereby ensuring the battery is not depleted if the lights need to be left on for long periods of time.

Police 101

A national non-emergency phone number (101) was introduced on 21 February 2013, after having been successful in England. When a caller dials 101, the system determines the caller’s location and connects them to a call handler in the police service centre for their area.[43] The 101 non-emergency phone is intended for situations when an emergency response is not required, in order to reduce pressure on the 999 system.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Cowan, Dave (30 October 2012). "Police Scotland: Name of new single police service unveiled". STV News. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  2. ↑ "Keeping Scotland Safe and Strong: A Consultation on Reforming Police and Fire and Rescue Services in Scotland". Scottish Government. 15 September 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Keeping Scotland Safe and Strong: A Consultation on Reforming Police and Fire and Rescue Services in Scotland – Research Findings". Scottish Government. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Single police and fire services" (Press release). Scottish Government. 8 September 2011. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Police and fire reform passed". Scottish Government. 27 June 2012. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013.
  6. ↑ "Police and Fire Reform Bill". 17 January 2012.
  7. ↑ "New police chief discussing jobs". Stirling Observer. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  8. ↑ "Stephen House starts first day as Scotland's single police force chief". STV News. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  9. ↑ "First Scots Police Authority Chair Announced | UK Police News". Police Oracle. 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  10. ↑ Magnus Linklater Published at 12:01AM, 17 November 2012 (2012-11-17). "No turf war in Scotland, insists Stephen House, new Chief Constable". The Times. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  11. ↑ New logo for single police service is scrapped | Herald Scotland
  12. ↑ "Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary's closing chapter". BBC News. 15 September 2011.
  13. ↑ Musson, Chris. "Police Scotland in logo blunder – The Sun –News–Scottish News". The Sun (London).
  14. ↑ "Police chiefs warn officers: step up stop and search" Herald Scotland, 29 June 2014 http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/crime-courts/police-chiefs-warn-officers-step-up-stop-and-search.24620750
  15. ↑ "Police Scotland frisk nine times as many people as the NYPD" http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/police-scotland-frisk-nine-times-as-many-people-as-the-nypd.24811529
  16. ↑ "Police Scotland to scale back station counter services and axe wardens". BBC News Online. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  17. ↑ Johnson, Simon (3 October 2013). "Most Scottish police 999 control rooms 'to close'". The Telegraph (London). Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  18. ↑ "Police Scotland: New service chiefs named". BBC News (BBC). 24 December 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  19. ↑ Scottish Government (2013-01-31). "Police Reform". Scottish Government. Retrieved 2013-02-11.
  20. ↑ Jim Smith (26 November 2012). "Police Scotland's first four Deputy Chief Constables appointed". STV News (STV). Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  21. ↑ "Police Scotland Annual Police Plan 2014/15".
  22. ↑ "Herald Scotland: Top Scots police chief... I'm bullied at work". Herald Scotland. 2014-08-24. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
  23. ↑ "Herald Scotland: Senior Police officer uses information Law to find out about his top colleagues". Herald Scotland. 2014-05-11. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
  24. ↑ "Q&A: Scotland's new police service - Police Scotland". BBC News. 17 March 2013.
  25. ↑ Herald Scotland - Scottish police chiefs win £10,000-a-year pay rises
  26. ↑ http://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/finance/pay-and-grading-structure/''. Missing or empty |title= (help);
  27. ↑ "Scots police merger 'sets example' to south of border". BBC. 2013-03-31. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
  28. ↑ "Annual Report 2013-14". scotland.police.uk. Police Scotland. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  29. ↑ Police Scotland: Police Scotland Officer Numbers Quarter 3 - 31 December 2013 Linked 2015-04-11
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 "Statement of Operational Readiness Day 1". Public Board Meeting. Scottish Police Authority. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 WhatDoTheyKnow?. "Freedom of Information Request". Police Scotland. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Specialist Crime Division". Police Scotland. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Chief Constables Report 2nd October 2013". Public Board Meeting. Scottish Police Authority. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  34. ↑ "Chief Constables Report 30th October 2013". Public Board Meeting. Scottish Police Authority. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 "PSOS Paper – OSU Paper". Public Board Meeting 21st August 2013. Scottish Police Authority. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  36. ↑ Gareth, Rose (23 December 2012). "Armed police to patrol all of Scotland". The Scotsman. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  37. ↑ "Strathclyde Police Review Inspection of 2004". HM Inspectorate of Constabulary's Review Inspection of Strathclyde Police. Scottish Government. July 2006. Retrieved 30 November 2013. As the only Scottish police force with air support
  38. ↑ "Bell 206B II G-EYEI", Bulletins, Air Accidents Investigation Branch, May 1990, retrieved 2013-11-30
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 "Police helicopter crash 'miracle'". BBC News (BBC). 18 February 2002. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  40. ↑ "Eurocopter EC135T1, G-SPAU", Bulletins, Air Accidents Investigation Branch, August 2003, retrieved 30 November 2013
  41. ↑ "Glasgow helicopter crash: Eight dead at Clutha pub". BBC News (BBC). 30 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  42. ↑ "Police helicopter crash is latest setback for Eurocopter fleet". STV News (STV Group (Scotland)). 30 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  43. ↑ "STV News – Non-emergency 101 hotline launched for calls to police in Scotland". 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2013-02-21.

External links