English criminal cases are negatively impacting Police Scotland, affecting officer morale and public perception.
English criminal cases are negatively impacting Police Scotland, affecting officer morale and public perception.
England Criminal Cases Impact Police Scotland Morale, Says Police Leader
Kennedy discussed negative views impacting officers. A former chief constable’s claims added to this; Police Scotland was called “institutionally racist.” He believes this hurts officer morale. Kennedy noted officers face a tough job.
They handle issues stemming from forces in England. He mentioned a few specific troubling cases: Wayne Couzens raped and murdered Sarah Everard, and David Carrick was a serial rapist, too.
Kennedy described the job as frustrating, especially due to events in England and Wales. These incidents add stress for Scottish police, even though most officers are good people, he said, and want to do their jobs well.
An older woman’s interaction stood out to him. She hesitated to invite officers inside, only doing so after her son arrived. Kennedy said this shows what police must think about. Officers worry about complaints against them.
He said it’s not fair to always think this way, but officers must consider this possibility. Kennedy said the “institutionally racist” label impacted views and made things harder for officers.
Now they must explain what that means, even though he thinks Scotland isn’t like England. Yet, issues still exist, and officers aren’t generally racist, he stated. Some people are racist in any job.
Kennedy said this doesn’t reflect all police, and the SPF has to fight against that idea constantly. Jo Farrell now leads Police Scotland and agrees with the prior chief constable; she thinks the force is “institutionally discriminatory.”
Kennedy said most officers avoid trouble, with only 0.2% ever getting into trouble. He thinks more visible policing helps, stating that people knowing their local officers is key to trust.
Kennedy discussed negative views impacting officers. A former chief constable’s claims added to this; Police Scotland was called “institutionally racist.” He believes this hurts officer morale. Kennedy noted officers face a tough job.
They handle issues stemming from forces in England. He mentioned a few specific troubling cases: Wayne Couzens raped and murdered Sarah Everard, and David Carrick was a serial rapist, too.
Kennedy described the job as frustrating, especially due to events in England and Wales. These incidents add stress for Scottish police, even though most officers are good people, he said, and want to do their jobs well.
An older woman’s interaction stood out to him. She hesitated to invite officers inside, only doing so after her son arrived. Kennedy said this shows what police must think about. Officers worry about complaints against them.
He said it’s not fair to always think this way, but officers must consider this possibility. Kennedy said the “institutionally racist” label impacted views and made things harder for officers.
Now they must explain what that means, even though he thinks Scotland isn’t like England. Yet, issues still exist, and officers aren’t generally racist, he stated. Some people are racist in any job.
Kennedy said this doesn’t reflect all police, and the SPF has to fight against that idea constantly. Jo Farrell now leads Police Scotland and agrees with the prior chief constable; she thinks the force is “institutionally discriminatory.”
Kennedy said most officers avoid trouble, with only 0.2% ever getting into trouble. He thinks more visible policing helps, stating that people knowing their local officers is key to trust.