North-east police hope a significant rollout of Taser guns will help curb a dramatic spike in officer assaults – with one constable saying there are “countless” incidents of violence.
New data provided by Police Scotland reveals a concerning rise in violence with officers now facing a far greater risk of being assaulted across the north-east and Highlands.
Official police figures show a startling 13% increase in police assaults across Grampian over the last five years.
However, internal personal reports by officers indicate they are experiencing more than double the amount of violence than in previous years.
The figures, seen by The Press and Journal and recorded by officers as part of a health and safety requirement, show that between April 2021 and March 2022 police officers in the north-east reported 466 incidents of violence.
The total was more than double the numbers for 2020-21, with 214 assaults, and 139 in 2019-20.
In the Highlands and Islands, the number of assaults against officers was 173 in 2021-22, compared to 96 incidents of assault the previous year.
‘The number of times I’ve been assaulted is well into double figures’
Peterhead constable Jim Will, 49, has described the frequency and types of violence he and his colleagues are seeing now as “unheard of” compared to previous years.
He claims he has been grabbed, punched and kicked in the face on many occasions by members of the public.
“In my 21 years, I would say the number of times I’ve been assaulted is well into double figures,” Pc Will said.
“We’ve always had violent individuals, but what I’m seeing now is people with no criminal background and who’ve never had dealings with the police willing to assault us.
“The mental health aspect and the amount of those incidents we’re dealing with is also leaving us open to countless assaults.
“You are wary of everything you go to. It doesn’t matter if it’s a noisy neighbour complaint, an ongoing domestic assault or a more serious incident.
“You are not so gung-ho to put yourself in the firing line.”
Pc Will also spoke of an incident in which a man came at him and his fellow officers brandishing a knife.
“Thankfully, we were fortunate enough to get on top of the incident and deal without anyone getting hurt or injured, but it was one of those moments that could have turned sour very, very quickly,” he said.
“It was a catastrophic incident as it was, but it could have been a lot worse.”
Police Scotland hopes that Taser guns can act as a deterrent against violence and stem the increasing number of assaults against its constables.
With 750 officers currently trained in the use of Taser, Police Scotland said it plans to train up to 500 additional officers every year.
“It’s the right way forward,” Pc Will said. “It’s a huge deterrent.”
“For us, it’s about people who would otherwise attempt to assault us looking at that Taser and saying to themselves ‘hmmm, I don’t fancy that’.
“There is always going to be people willing to assault us, but there is a degree of reassurance that we are going to be able to attend incidents knowing that we are going to be safe when we finish our shift.”
Police Scotland’s own data shows that in 85% of instances of Taser use nationally, the weapon was not discharged.
In the first two months of 2022, for example, Tasers were drawn 75 times but only discharged nine times.
Across the north and north-east the numbers are even smaller with Taser being drawn four times in January and February, but only discharged once.
It is also worth noting that each time a Taser is unholstered it must be logged with the Police Investigation and Review Commissioner (PIRC).
‘We shouldn’t be coming to our work to be assaulted’
North-east chief inspector Rob Sturton believes that what Taser does is allows his officers greater protection and “increases our tactical options when we attend incidents that merit it”.
He added: “The thing to get across here is that our officers would feel better protected to go and protect the public.
“And it expands our options when we’re attending specific types of incidents, such as when there are weapons involved or increased risk, in particular with violent individuals.
“I very much come from a position that any assault on any of our officers is too much and I think most right-thinking people in the north-east would agree that we shouldn’t be coming to our work to be assaulted.
“Effectively what we’re saying is that it’s not part of the job.
“We do a very dangerous job and a very unique job in society but part of that job isn’t getting bruised and battered and going home to your family with a black eye or a broken limb.”
David Threadgold, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation’s north area committee, called for the Scottish Government to be even more ambitious and increase funding to ensure all officers can use Tasers.
He said: “I want every cop in Scotland to be as well-equipped as the guy standing next to him.
“We’ve already done the public consultations and identified the need for some cops to carry Taser, so why not all? And the answer to that question is financing.
“I would like Police Scotland’s budget to specifically be increased to deal with rolling out Taser across the country.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Police officers do a first-rate job in protecting the public and keeping us safe from harm, often putting themselves at risk to protect others.
“Police Scotland continues to be an unarmed service but with an appropriate armed capability including Taser, our position on that will not change.
“The deployment of Specially Trained Officers (STOs) in the use of Taser is an operational matter for the Chief Constable.
“Police Scotland plans to increase the number of STOs by 1,500 over the next three years.
“Despite cuts to the Scottish Government’s capital budget we have more than doubled the police capital budget since 2017-18, supporting continued investment in police assets to ensure officers have the tools they need to do their jobs effectively.”
