POLICE SCOTLAND

OFFICERS have warned that justice has been “largely forgotten” during the pandemic in a bombshell report on the police service.

The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) insists victims are “of lesser importance” than criminals, with a seven-year backlog meaning many cases will not come to court. The federation represents officers up to and including the rank of chief inspector, some 98% of the force.

The blistering attack has been made by frontline officers in a written submission to Holyrood’s justice committee.

Critics accused the SNP Government of a “soft-touch approach to justice”.

Emergency laws were brought in last year cracking down on travel and large house parties to limit the spread of coronavirus. But the federation warns the move simply “stoked up tensions”, while the impact of the pandemic meant suspects have evaded justice.

In the damning submission, published within the last few days, general secretary Calum Steele said: “The administration of justice has largely been forgotten about during this pandemic. Prisoners were released, suspects for serious offences were rarely kept in custody, those who assaulted police officers were often home in their beds before the officers themselves finished work.

“Politicians played fast and loose with their language, stoking up tensions on issues like mass gatherings, in the full knowledge this made the policing of such events more challenging.

“Victims of crime were considered of lesser importance than the perpetrators of crime in the policies that fell from the Covid response.”

Criticising Police Scotland, he said: “Despite a number of internal warnings before the pandemic was declared, the service failed to respond timeously. The internal bureaucracy and turgid decision-making meant the police service was on the back foot.”

Police officers had been “unnecessarily exposed to enhanced risk of contracting the virus as a direct result of their duties.”

He added that emergency laws brought in to limit social contact during the first wave were “opaque and often unenforceable”. He said: “Police officers have throughout this pandemic felt neglected and unsupported by government.”

There is no doubt, that police officers and staff have given unstinting public service during the pandemic. This bombshell submission has openly revealed the burden they have carried throughout Covid.

However, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We do not recognise, and disagree with, much of the content of this submission [by the Scottish Police Federation]. Public trust and confidence in policing has remained strong throughout the pandemic as officers and staff stepped forward with commitment and professionalism to tackle the spread of coronavirus.”

The Scottish Government said: “No one should be the victim of abuse or violence at work. Assaults on police officers are despicable and the Scottish Government fully supports courts having their current extensive powers to deal robustly with perpetrators.”