Police in Scotland were among the frontrunners on officer safety training and de-escalation techniques, prompted in part by the tragic on-duty murder of PC Lewis Fulton almost 30 years ago; but Michael Greville, a former long-serving officer who played a key role in developing the officer training programme, believes Police Scotland needs to address a significant gap between training and operational application that leaves officers and the public at risk.
❝This gap in practice and procedure underscores a growing concern about assaults on police and officer safety.❞
❝Examining the circumstances around the police engagement on that fatal summer day, it became clear that frontline officers had no immediate means of creating a barrier between themselves and a person who was in possession of a weapon and posing a threat to officer and public safety.❞
❝Since the formation of Police Scotland, the short shields have all been removed from response vehicles, due to a concern about their weight.❞
❝On Scotland’s streets, unarmed officers now frequently face dangerous and life-threatening situations, involving people armed with more lethal weapons like swords, machetes and crossbows, without the backup of armed response vehicles.❞
❝The ongoing challenges faced by Police Scotland serve as a catalyst for re-evaluating and reinforcing the protective strategies and tools available to officers.❞
https://lnkd.in/eBJQVJbK
#lawenforcement #policing #police #traininganddevelopment