Police Scotland share photos of bobbies NOT on the beat to ‘engage’ with the public

From dressing up as a penguin to hooking plastic ducks and making cuddly toys, police work these days may seem child’s play.

But Police Scotland insist that the trend for officers to take part in fun and light-hearted activities – and post pictures online – is a vital part of the day job.

The photographs are increasingly common on Twitter and other social media platforms as police show off their fun side and promote community policing online.

But one policing source said: ‘This enrages a lot of officers and does the force little credit.

Police Scotland insist the trend for officers to take part in light-hearted activities – and post pictures online – is a vital part of their job. Pictured: officers shared this picture at Glenfinnan Viaduct with the caption ‘so far no reports of flying car in the area! #backtohogwarts’

The photographs are increasingly common on Twitter and other social media platforms as police show off their fun side. Pictured: Dunfermline Police at Cairneyhill gala

The photographs are increasingly common on Twitter and other social media platforms as police show off their fun side. Pictured: Dunfermline Police at Cairneyhill gala

But one policing source said: ‘This enrages a lot of officers and does the force little credit.' Pictured: Dumfries Police at Youth Beatz 2018

But one policing source said: ‘This enrages a lot of officers and does the force little credit.’ Pictured: Dumfries Police at Youth Beatz 2018

‘There may be a case for it in certain circumstances but it has to be carefully considered, otherwise it undermines the gravitas of police work.

‘It also infuriates the public because they can’t understand why a police service that claims to be so stretched that it can’t respond effectively to crime is able to send officers to these “fun” activities.’

A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘By participating in events like community gala days, family fun days and coffee mornings, we are ensuring local people are aware of their local policing teams, who are tasked to deal with issues within specific areas and are seen as a point of contact for residents.

‘Social media posts like these –which are generated while officers are at work in the community – are shared to demonstrate how approachable our officers are, and the steps we take to engage with the people we work to keep safe.’

Labour Daniel Johnson said: ‘Under the SNP policing is increasingly centralised, while the number of officers on the beat is falling.’

The source added: ‘It also infuriates the public because they can’t understand why a police service that claims to be so stretched that it can’t respond effectively to crime is able to send officers to these “fun” activities.’ Pictured: Dunfermline Police with two people in costume outside the little shop of heroes

The source added: ‘It also infuriates the public because they can’t understand why a police service that claims to be so stretched that it can’t respond effectively to crime is able to send officers to these “fun” activities.’ Pictured: Dunfermline Police with two people in costume outside the little shop of heroes

Police Scotland Dogs shared this picture with the caption: 'PD Herbie told her handler she can drive herself now #budgetcuts [winking emoji with tongue out]'

Police Scotland Dogs shared this picture with the caption: ‘PD Herbie told her handler she can drive herself now #budgetcuts [winking emoji with tongue out]’

A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘By participating in events like community gala days, family fun days and coffee mornings, we are ensuring local people are aware of their local policing teams.' Pictured: Dunfermline Police playing hook a duck at a family fun day

A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘By participating in events like community gala days, family fun days and coffee mornings, we are ensuring local people are aware of their local policing teams.’ Pictured: Dunfermline Police playing hook a duck at a family fun day

Mr Steele said in some areas, the number of officers available for shifts had decreased over the past decade by between a third and a half.

He added: ‘There probably wouldn’t be a single police officer in Scotland who would tell you that the same resources are available now as ten or 15 years ago.

‘It used to be the case that in Inverness, for example, you would have a dozen or so officers on a typical shift and now they might be lucky to have six.

‘This is made worse by the closure of police stations, particularly in more rural areas, because those stations perhaps had only one or two officers but they contributed to the overall number of officers available.

‘In some areas, beat policing has effectively died off entirely – to the immense frustration of the officers themselves, who are run ragged.

‘The public have given up, to some extent, because they think police won’t come when they report crime. 

Pictured: Angus Police knitting at a coffee morning

Pictured: Angus Police knitting at a coffee morning

Pictured: Dunfermline Police shared this picture of police officers getting crafty at the Kingsgate centre with the hashtag 'my unicorns better than yours'

Pictured: Dunfermline Police shared this picture of police officers getting crafty at the Kingsgate centre with the hashtag ‘my unicorns better than yours’

‘When they eventually do get in touch – because they can’t tolerate it any more – the situation has deteriorated so much that it is harder for us to respond effectively.

‘It is a true a lot of policing may be “unseen” – tackling serious organised crime, for example – but police and the Government have a job to do to convince people this work is more important than the day-to-day reality of their lived experience. I’m not sure anyone has given that much thought.’

Meanwhile, Police Scotland’s own research indicates that 37 per cent of Scots believe crime is rising in their area.

But asked if they knew they had a ‘local policing team’, 53 per cent of respondents said no, while 47.2 per cent said they were ‘reassured’ when they saw officers on the streets. The Your View Counts 2016-17 survey received responses from 18,894 people. The figures come amid repeated claims from the Scottish Government that recorded crime is at a historic low.

Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘Local communities clearly feel reassured by a local police presence, so the lack of awareness of local policing teams is concerning.

‘It is important that local police officers are approachable to law-abiding members of the public but Police Scotland must also ensure that they are keeping the public safe and dealing appropriately with offenders.’ Analysis by Scottish Labour claims to show policing has become more reactive due to police cuts and centralisation.

The research shows that the number of recorded motor vehicle offences has fallen by more 168,000 (57 per cent) from 295,000 to 127,000 between 2013-14 and 2017-18.

Labour attributes most of this decrease to a drop in offences such as speeding or unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Argyll, Helensburgh & Lomond Police shared this picture of Penguin Pete ahead of an open day

Argyll, Helensburgh & Lomond Police shared this picture of Penguin Pete ahead of an open day

Angus Police shared this picture of police at the trauma teddies coffee morning

Angus Police shared this picture of police at the trauma teddies coffee morning

Mr Steele said ‘the decline in proactive police activity comes as no surprise’ as officers are ‘stretched to breaking point’.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘Our officers interact with members of their local communities on a day-to-day basis. These officers are building relationships and establishing bonds of trust with people of all ages so as to encourage them to contact the police in times of need.’

On the Labour analysis, the spokesman said the force was ‘committed to an ongoing calendar of proactive campaigns and awareness-raising to encourage people to play a part in keeping themselves safe’.

He added: ‘Police numbers have remained consistently high since the creation of Police Scotland. The front line of policing goes beyond uniformed officers on the street.

‘[It] includes officers working in less visible but vital areas which protect the public, such as preventing and investigating serious and organised crime, cybercrime and abuse of children and vulnerable people.’



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