POLICE Scotland has opened a new international academy to help develop other forces around the world at its headquarters in Fife.
Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said the role of a police officer should be as a “guardian, not a warrior” as he opened the facility at Tulliallan.
The academy follows previous projects Police Scotland has carried out with police in countries such as Malawi, Zambia and Colombia.
Later, the academy will welcome senior officers from the FBI for its national executive institute, the first time it has been held outside the US in 10 years.
Nicola Sturgeon (below) and the chief constable opened the Police Scotland International Academy today, where they spoke to those who will help run it.
READ MORE: Police escort for fundraiser set up after Scottish officer’s death
Livingstone said Police Scotland wanted to contribute to the debate around police legitimacy taking place in many countries, saying “the role of police constable is as guardian, not as a warrior”.
He said: “Our values of integrity, fairness, respect and enabling human rights; our commitment to policing by consent, and our legal duty to improve the safety and wellbeing of people and communities, lie at the heart of our identity.
“These principles and approaches are vital in all we do and are, in my view, worth sharing with the world.”
The First Minister said: “The police here in Scotland are renowned for a human rights-based approach to policing.
“What the International Academy is about is Police Scotland helping police services in countries across the world where that hasn’t been the case embed that approach in their police services.”
She continued: “Work like this is never without its critics, we live in a democracy, and that’s all fair enough.
“But I 100% support this initiative by Police Scotland because I think it’s in our interest to play our part in extending the values that we hold dear to as many parts of the world as possible.”
READ MORE: Tech firm to supply Police Scotland with body cameras for COP26
Inspector Craig Rankine has worked on projects in Malawi and will be working with the new academy.
These schemes were rewarding for both forces despite the differences in cultures, he said.
He told the PA news agency: “It’s a completely different kind of operating environment, no amount of briefing can prepare you for being there on your own.
“I was embedded with the Malawi police service, working with their senior officers, and that is a completely different experience.”
READ MORE: Scotland sends £270k oxygen help to Africa to help with rising Covid cases
He added: “You’re very aware of the levels of poverty – you see it everywhere.
“But you have to focus on the job and why you’re there because you can be distracted by that.
“It is quite harrowing to see young people that are suffering from malnutrition or people that are dying fairly young.
“It does make you humble and grateful for what you have back here in Scotland and I think that’s what most officers take back from the experience.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel