New officers must win public's trust

The largest ever intake of officers passed out from basic training at the Scottish Police College last Friday.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Sep 2017, 19:00 BST
Chief Inspector Damian ArmstrongChief Inspector Damian Armstrong
Chief Inspector Damian Armstrong

From many backgrounds and areas of Scotland, those 213 officers represented one of the most ethnically diverse graduation ceremonies in the Force’s history.

They are being deployed to stations across Scotland.

Forth Valley will be the destination for some and there are more at the police college studying hard who will deploy across the Falkirk area command in future.

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I remember my own graduation ceremony more than 20 years ago and the sense of pride at completing basic training – and the trepidation and excitement of being deployed.

One of the key messages these officers will carry with them is that they police by consent. One of the most important skills to develop is to win the trust and confidence of the communities they serve.

Policing is one of the few professions where everyone starts the same way, entering as a probationary constable who, after two years and being confirmed in the rank, will enjoy a varied and exciting career. If you are interested in joining these officers, you can find more details online.