Jump to content

Police Scotland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Dizziedee (talk | contribs) at 22:16, 8 March 2014 (Update). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Police Service of Scotland
Seirbheis Phoilis na h-Alba
File:Police Scotland revised logo.svg
Common namePolice Scotland
MottoLatin: Semper Vigilo
("Always vigilant")
Agency overview
Formed1 April 2013
Preceding agency
Employees23096
Volunteers1400
Annual budget£1.2 Billion (fy 2013–14)
Jurisdictional structure
National agency
(Operations jurisdiction)		Scotland
Operations jurisdictionScotland
Map of police area
Size78,772 km2
Population5,295,000 (2011)
Legal jurisdictionScotland
Primary governing bodyScottish Government
Secondary governing bodyScottish Police Authority
Constituting instrument
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersTulliallan Castle
Sworn members17496 police officers (not including 1400 special constables)
Unsworn members5600 civilian police staff
Minister responsible
Agency executives
Divisions14
Facilities
Stations214
Vehicles3500
Helicopters1 ("Spare" from the NPAS after own helicopter destroyed in crash on 29 November 2013)
Website
www.scotland.police.uk

Police Scotland is a territorial police force with responsibility for law enforcement in Scotland. Police Scotland was formed on 1 April 2013 through the amalgamation of the eight pre existing forces, the Scottish Police Services Authority and the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency.[1] The full legal name of the organisation, as described in the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, is the Police Service of Scotland (PSoS) or, in Scottish Gaelic, Seirbheis Phoilis na h-Alba.[2][3]

History

The Police Service of Scotland was founded in 2013, under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and, at that time, merged with the following law enforcement agencies:

The Scottish Police Services Authority, which was a public body of the Scottish Government responsible for certain central services for police forces in Scotland was also merged into Police Scotland with the Scottish Police Authority holding the Police in Scotland to account.

After a consultation,[4] the Scottish Government confirmed on 8 September 2011 that a single police service would be created in Scotland,.[5] Further consultations resulted[6] on a single Scottish police force, the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill was published in January 2012.[7] After scrutiny and debate by the Scottish Parliament, the legislation was approved on 27 June 2012.[8] The Bill duly received Royal Assent as the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012. The Scottish Government stated[8] "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."

Key provisions of the legislation include:

  • Formal opportunities for the Scottish Parliament to scrutinise the service;
  • New roles for councils to shape and scrutinise local delivery of policing;
  • A designated local policing commander and local senior fire officer for each local authority area; and
  • Clear responsibilities for the Chief Constable and, to ensure continued separation from Ministers, a new Scottish Police Authority with 11 to 15 members and a clear and strong remit to effectively hold the Chief Constable to account.

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.[9][10] Members of the Scottish Police Authority were to be appointed in October 2012.[11] Its first chair, Vic Emery, was appointed in August 2012.[12]

Executive Team[13][14][15]

Chief Constable
Sir Stephen House
Deputy Chief Constable (Designated Deputy)
Neil Richardson
Deputy Chief Constable (Territorial Policing)
Rose Fitzpatrick
Deputy Chief Constable (Crime and Operational Support)
Iain Livingstone
Deputy Chief Constable (Commonwealth Games and Major Events)
Steve Allen
Assistant Chief Constable (Local Policing – East)
Mike McCormick
Assistant Chief Constable (Local Policing – West)
Wayne Mawson
Assistant Chief Constable (Local Policing – North)
Campbell Thomson (Temporary)
Assistant Chief Constable (Serious Crime and Public Protection)
Malcolm Graham
Assistant Chief Constable (Crime, Serious Organised Crime, and Counter Terrorism)
Ruaraidh Nicolson
Assistant Chief Constable (Operational Support)
Bernie Higgins
Assistant Chief Constable (Without Portfolio)
John Mauger

All will be based at the Interim National Strategic Command Base (NSCB) at Tulliallan Castle in Fife.[16]

The Assistant Chief Constables' earnings will depend on their previous experience and will fall between £90,726 and £105,849 a year.[17] [18]

Ranks

  • Chief Constable
  • Deputy Chief Constable
  • Assistant Chief Constable
  • Chief Superintendent
  • Superintendent
  • Chief Inspector
  • Inspector
  • Sergeant
  • Constable

The ranks of Constable to Inspector can be prefixed with the term "Police", which leads to the abbreviations of PC, PS/Sgt, PI/Insp respectively. Normally, however, the "Police" is omitted as it is unnecessary, except for the abbreviations – especially PC. A Police Constable is, therefore, properly titled and addressed "Constable (Full name or surname)".

Detective officers of the ranks Constable to Chief Superintendent have their ranks prefixed with the term "Detective", e.g. Detective Constable.

Local policing areas and commanders

An individual policing plan has been drawn up for each of Scotland's 353 local council wards.[19] In addition, each of the fourteen divisional commanders are "people who came up through the ranks in that part of the country".[20] The divisional commanders are as follows:[21]

  • West Command
    • Argyll & West Dunbartonshire (L Division): Chief Superintendent Barry McEwan
    • Ayrshire (U Division): Chief Superintendent Gillian MacDonald
    • Dumfries & Galloway (V Division): Chief Superintendent Kate Thomson
    • Greater Glasgow (G Division): Chief Superintendent Andy Bates
    • Lanarkshire (Q Division): Chief Superintendent Nelson Telfer
    • Renfrewshire & Inverclyde (K Division): Chief Superintendent Alan Spiers


  • East Command
    • Edinburgh (E Division): Chief Superintendent Mark Williams
    • Fife (P Division): Chief Superintendent Garry McEwan
    • Forth Valley (C Division): Chief Superintendent David Flynn
    • Lothians & Scottish Borders (J Division): Chief Superintendent Gill Imery


  • North Command
    • Aberdeen City (A Division): Chief Superintendent Adrian Watson
    • Aberdeenshire & Moray (B Division): Chief Superintendent Mark McLaren
    • Highland & Islands (N Division): Chief Superintendent Julian Innes
    • Tayside (D Division): Chief Superintendent Hamish Macpherson


Local Policing Personnel Resources [22]

Police Scotland Officer Numbers.

  • National Resources are officers within specialist departments who are deployable across Scotland. This May include: National Intelligence Bureau, Homicide Governance and Review, Prison Intelligence Unit, Human Trafficking Unit, National Rape Investigation, National Rape Review, Fugitive Unit and Scottish Protected Persons Unit, International Unit, HOLMES, Safer Communities Citizen Focus, Preventions and Interventions, and Strategic Partnerships, Scottish Police Information and Coordination Centre, Intelligence, Specialist Operations Training, Air Support, Dive/Marine Unit, Football Co-ordination Unit, Mounted Unit, Mountain Rescue, Motorcycle Unit
  • Regional Resources are officers within specialist departments who are deployable across the command. This may include: Major Investigation Teams, Forensic Gateways, E – Crime, Financial Investigations, Serious and Organised Crime Units, Counter Terrorism Units, Offender Management, Border Policing Command, Technical Support Unit and Interventions, Event and Emergency Planning, VIP Planning, Armed Policing Training, Road Policing Management & Policy, Armed Policing, Dogs, Trunk Roads Policing Group and Operational Support Units
  • Divisional resources are the officers working within the community and response teams covering your local area. This would also include local CID officers.


  • POLICE SCOTLAND
    • National Resources: 1363
      • West Command
        • West Regional Resources: 1364
          • Argyll & West Dunbartonshire (L Division): 570
          • Ayrshire (U Division): 862
          • Dumfries & Galloway (V Division): 371
          • Greater Glasgow (G Division): 2714
          • Lanarkshire (Q Division): 1465
          • Renfrewshire & Inverclyde (K Division): 678
      • East Command
        • East Regional Resources: 939
          • Edinburgh (E Division): 1180
          • Fife (P Division): 839
          • Forth Valley (C Division): 633
          • Lothians & Scottish Borders (J Division): 964
      • North Command
        • North Regional Resources: 584
          • Aberdeen City (A Division): 540
          • Aberdeenshire & Moray (B Division): 592
          • Highland & Islands (N Division): 632
          • Tayside (D Division): 968


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.[23] SCD comprises more than 2000 officers and targets individuals that pose the most significant threat to communities.[24]

  • 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.[24]

  • 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.[25]

  • 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.[26]

  • 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).[23]

  • 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.[25][26]

  • 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.[27]

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.

  • Domestic Abuse Task Force

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

  • 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.[23]

  • 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 focussing 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.[28]

  • Armed response

Prior to the creation of Police Scotland, only urban areas benefited from full-time dedicated firearms officers. This has been extended to all 14 local policing divisions in Scotland, each of which have their own dedicated armed response vehicle (ARV) teams. Throughout Police Scotland, up to 400 officers are trained in firearms.[29]

  • 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.[28]

  • Air Support Unit

Police Scotland have an Air Support Unit based at Glasgow City Heliport, which consists of one helicopter. The helicopter is owned and operated by Bond Air Services under contract for Police Scotland, with the three crew comprising one civilian pilot and two police officer observers.[30][31]

The most recent helicopter operated was the Eurocopter EC135 T2+ helicopter which crashed into The Clutha Vaults pub on 29 November 2013.[31] There is currently a loan helicopter from the National Police Air Service at Prestwick Airport (Eurocopter EC135 T2 G-CPSH, formerly of the Chiltern Air Support Unit), it is unclear when this will be stationed at the Glasgow Heliport.

The Air Support Unit was originally part of Strathclyde Police, one of the forces which amalgamated to form Police Scotland and they originally operated the helicopter involved in the 2013 Glasgow helicopter crash. Strathclyde Police were the only force to have an air component when Police Scotland was formed in April 2013.[32]

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.

  • On 24 January 1990, a Bell 206 JetRanger G-EYEI, normally used by Radio Clyde and covering for unavailability of the police MBB Bo 105 helicopter crashed in Giffnock, Glasgow after suffering engine failure during a sudden, severe snow storm. The aircraft wasn't fitted with the necessary "Snow Deflector Kit" and suffered from choking of the engine air intake, resulting in the engine failing. The aircraft hit a five story building whilst attempting to land and crashed to the ground, causing the death of 32 year old police observer Sergeant Malcolm Herd. The remaining three crew (two police officers and one pilot) survived the accident.[33][34]
  • On 19 February 2002, a Eurocopter EC135 T1 G-SPAU crashed in a field near Muirkirk in East Ayrshire whilst conducting a search for a possible missing child.[33] The crew, comprising two police officer observers and one pilot escaped serious injury, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and scrapped. Accident investigators were unable to confirm a definitive cause for the accident, but issued two recommendations to improve safety.[35]
  • On 29 November 2013, a Eurocopter EC135 T2+ G-SPAO crashed onto The Clutha Vaults pub near to the River Clyde in the city centre of Glasgow. The three crew aboard the helicopter (comprising one pilot and two police officer observers) were killed along with seven people on the ground.[36]
  • Marine and Underwater Unit

Two full-time units skilled in both underwater search and marine capability are based in Greenock in the west (1 Sergeant and 11 Constables) and Aberdeen in the north (dive supervisor and four Constables). A number of non-dedicated divers are retained across the country to provide additional resources within this specialism.[28]

  • Mounted Branch

The mounted police 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.[28]

  • Mountain rescue

Police Scotland operate four mountain rescue teams.[23]

Headquarters

Tulliallan Castle – Police Scotland HQ.

The Police Scotland HQ is located at Tulliallan Castle. The modern-day Tulliallan Castle is about a half mile to the southeast of the old castle, built in 1818–1820 for Viscount Keith. The building was acquired by the Mitchell family in 1924. During World War II, it was the headquarters of the Polish Armed Forces in the West. Prior to the Second World War there was no central training for police officers in Scotland, but immediately thereafter it was decided that probationer Constables from all forces should be trained centrally and that some training for more senior officers should also be provided. The result was Tulliallan, purchased in 1950 by the then Scottish Home Department for £9,100. The building was modernised and renovated and the first courses for inspectors and sergeants began in 1954. Tulliallan Castle has since been the home of the Scottish Police College. It is now also the headquarters of Police Scotland upon its creation in 2013.

Impact

As well as superseding the eight former regional forces and the SCDEA, Police Scotland also incorporated the Scottish Police Services Authority – which included the Scottish Police College. The Police Service of Scotland is held to account by the new Scottish Police Authority.[37]

The Police Service of Scotland does not include the British Transport Police, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary or the Ministry of Defence Police, which operate on a UK wide basis and come under the oversight of the UK government.

A national non-emergency phone number (101) was launched on 21 February 2013. 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.[38][39] 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.

Controversy

Staffing

Even before coming into force, it was widely reported that the new Chief Constable, Stephen House, and the Scottish Police Authority were in disagreement over the control of backroom staff.[40]

Force logo and the Court of the Lord Lyon

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.[41] 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.[42] With minor artistic variations, it was also used by all the regional Scottish police forces before 1 April 2013.[43]

Public counter and control room closures

In October 2013 Police Scotland announced proposals to close 65 out of 215 public counters within police stations throughout the country 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.[44]

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. Controls rooms considered for closure include Aberdeen, Inverness and Dumfries.[45]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Police Scotland: Name of new single police service unveiled". 30 October 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  2. ^ "Creation of national police and fire services given royal seal of approval". News.stv.tv. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  3. ^ "New police and fire headquarters". 21 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Keeping Scotland Safe and Strong: A Consultation on Reforming Police and Fire and Rescue Services in Scotland". 15 September 2011.
  5. ^ "Single police and fire services". 8 September 2011.
  6. ^ "Keeping Scotland Safe and Strong: A Consultation on Reforming Police and Fire and Rescue Services in Scotland – Research Findings". 16 December 2011.
  7. ^ "Police and Fire Reform Bill". 17 January 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Police and fire reform passed". 27 June 2012.
  9. ^ "New police chief discussing jobs". Stirling Observer. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  10. ^ "Stephen House starts first day as Scotland's single police force chief". STV News. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  11. ^ "Key police and fire posts advertised". 6 July 2012.
  12. ^ "First Scots Police Authority Chair Announced | UK Police News". Police Oracle. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  13. ^ "BBC News – Police Scotland: New service chiefs named". BBC. 24 December 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  14. ^ Scottish Government (31 January 2013). "Police Reform". Scottish Government. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  15. ^ Jim Smith (26 November 2012). "Police Scotland's first four Deputy Chief Constables appointed | Scotland | News | STV". STV News. STV. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  16. ^ "DIRECTION – Latest News About The Creation Of The Police Service of Scotland" (PDF). Scottish Government. August 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  17. ^ BBC News – Q&A: Scotland's new police service – Police Scotland
  18. ^ Herald Scotland - Scottish police chiefs win £10,000-a-year pay rises
  19. ^ "Annual Report 2013-14". scotland.police.uk. Police Scotland. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  20. ^ "Scots police merger 'sets example' to south of border". BBC. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  21. ^ "BBC News – Fourteen local commanders for new Police Scotland". BBC. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  22. ^ Police Scotland officer numbers
  23. ^ a b c d "Statement of Operational Readiness Day 1". Public Board Meeting. Scottish Police Authority. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  24. ^ a b WhatDoTheyKnow?. "Freedom of Information Request". Police Scotland. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  25. ^ a b "Specialist Crime Division". Police Scotland. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  26. ^ a b "Chief Constables Report 2nd October 2013". Public Board Meeting. Scottish Police Authority. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  27. ^ "Chief Constables Report 30th October 2013". Public Board Meeting. Scottish Police Authority. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  28. ^ a b c d "PSOS Paper – OSU Paper". Public Board Meeting 21st August 2013. Scottish Police Authority. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  29. ^ Gareth, Rose (23 December 2012). "Armed police to patrol all of Scotland". The Scotsman. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  30. ^ "About Us – Police Scotland". Police Scotland. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  31. ^ a b "Police helicopter crash is latest setback for Eurocopter fleet". STV News. STV Group (Scotland). 30 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  32. ^ "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
  33. ^ a b "Police helicopter crash 'miracle'". BBC News. BBC. 18 February 2002. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  34. ^ "Bell 206B II G-EYEI", Bulletins, Air Accidents Investigation Branch, May 1990, retrieved 30 November 2013
  35. ^ "Eurocopter EC135T1, G-SPAU", Bulletins, Air Accidents Investigation Branch, August 2003, retrieved 30 November 2013
  36. ^ "Glasgow helicopter crash: Eight dead at Clutha pub". BBC News. BBC. 30 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  37. ^ Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012
  38. ^ "Strathclyde Police – Launch of New National Non-Emergency Number". 21 February 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  39. ^ "STV News – Non-emergency 101 hotline launched for calls to police in Scotland". 21 February 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  40. ^ Magnus Linklater Published at 12:01AM, 17 November 2012 (17 November 2012). "No turf war in Scotland, insists Stephen House, new Chief Constable". The Times. Retrieved 28 January 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  41. ^ New logo for single police service is scrapped | Herald Scotland
  42. ^ BBC News – Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary's closing chapter
  43. ^ Police Scotland in logo blunder | The Sun |News|Scottish News
  44. ^ "Police Scotland to scale back station counter services and axe wardens". BBC News Online. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  45. ^ "Most Scottish police 999 control rooms 'to close'". The Telegraph. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Police_Scotland&oldid=598753871"