Rural police officers or those that work in a usually quiet community - how do you cope with a major incident?

[PollyCreo]

If you're used to dealing with regular crime such as burglaries, drunks and domestic disturbances, what happens if a major incident occurs and you're in an isolated area like a remote Scottish island? Do you have to wait for armed backup from the mainland?

Yes, I realise I'm extremely ignorant!

Yes there was an incident in Skye last year and the nearest armed police is Inverness so they had to wait.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/crime/snp-westminster-leader-ian-blackford-calls-for-armed-police-review-in-rural-areas-after-skye-shooting-3830638

Some islands are connected by causeways so police can drive between the islands but some you have to get to by boat, a nightmare for even the day to day police call outs!

God yes I remember that! I have a friend who lives in Bute and that was that awful murder a few years ago, the little girl.

Aww yes that was so sad. You should watch Highland Cops on iplayer - it’s interesting!

There's a very good film called Out Of The Blue about the Aramoana massacre in New Zealand- in a very rural seaside town.