POLICE chiefs have raised the alarm over a surge in assaults on cops amid a delay in arming frontline officers with body-worn cameras.
The force has seen work absences due to violent attacks shoot up by a third, sparking fresh safety fears for rank and file bobbies.
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Details of the cams delay emerged after safety training courses were postponed between December and January to deploy staff during the busy Christmas and New Year period.
It resulted in between 1,200 and 1,400 not receiving officer safety training for a month, ramping up injury risk worries.
According to a force report submitted to the Scottish Police Authority’s (SPA) people committee, sickness absences due to assault rose by 36.2 percent in a year.
David Threadgold, chair of the Scottish Police Federation, told 1919 magazine: “Police officers should not have to go to work to be assaulted. The minimum that you would expect is for employees to be trained to deal with it.
“There’s no doubt that when body-worn cameras are finally rolled out, we will see a reduction in assaults and officer absences.
“As we become less relevant and less present in our communities, the potential for more serious violence escalates.”
Mr Threadgold warned the force was becoming “reactive”, increasing the risk cops will be seen as “the bad guy”.
He added: “You are never going to take assaults completely out of policing – it is the nature of what we do.
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“But we need to improve the support for assaulted officers and ensure facilities are in place to help them return to work quickly.”
Police Scotland awarded a £13.3 million contract to Motorola Solutions to deliver 10,500 body-worn cameras over the next three years.
It has since emerged that the process of bridging the body-worn video camera technology with existing digital capabilities is behind an anticipated delay.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesperson Russell Findlay MSP said: “Scotland’s police officers have been left behind and deprived of this vital protective kit for far too long because of SNP cuts and their neglect of policing.
“The justice secretary must explain any further delays to the long overdue delivery of body-worn cameras.”
Chief Constable Jo Farrell told the SPA: “The national rollout of body-worn video is a complex programme of work.
“Appointing a supplier is an important step and we are working with Motorola Solutions to ensure that body-worn video is embedded effectively for frontline officers and staff as soon as possible and we’ll continue to share details as progress is made.”
