Most frontline cops no “essential” DV training but 15,000 have had hate crime training - Scotland

[IwantToRetire]

(not sure if things in Scotland are worse than elsewhere, or that Scottish papers are better at finding out information!)

A row has broken out after it emerged a “generation” of Scottish frontline cops have not been given “essential” domestic abuse training while almost 15,000 officers have undergone alternative hate crime training.

The news has led to criticism that Police Scotland is more focused on “hurt feelings” than serious violent crime against women.

More than 91% of 16,363 cops have undergone hate workshops in response to the controversial Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act coming into force in April, while domestic violence training was sidelined due to “the impact of Covid 19”.

Police Scotland has also set up a cadre of more than 500 specially trained hate crime officers and staff to support colleagues navigate the contentious new laws, as well as training around 80 hate crime advisors and 450 hate crime champions, who remain deployed in their existing police roles.

Data shows there were 61,934 domestic abuse incidents in 2022/23 compared to 6257 hate crimes – the majority of which Police Scotland say “are non-violent” involving verbal abuse or threats.

Scottish Conservative MSP Pam Gosal said: “Domestic abuse incidents are at record highs on the SNP’s watch, yet Police Scotland has failed to give this vital training to a generation of new officers.

“However, nearly 15,000 officers have received hate crime training, showing that they are more focused on hurt feelings than tackling serious crimes that impact the public.

“It’s just common sense that every officer should receive domestic abuse training and the Scottish Conservatives will fight to make that happen.”

Article continues at https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2024/10/cops-in-abuse-training-row/

Er, right.

With all these things, we’re no longer surprised they happen, and are always left wondering How did this happen? Who? Who influenced them? It is so politically bad, because it’s so objectively bad, so why was it worth it to whoever makes the decisions?

I'm sadly completely unsurprised by this.

I'd put money on other training also being neglected (modern slavery, human trafficking mental health). But as long as the hate crime box is ticked, all is well.

Shameful.

As DV is almost exactly 10 times as common as hate crime, they should have:

• 150,000 DV workshop attendances (they only have 16,363 officers, so they'd have to do 9 workshops each)
• 5,000 specially trained DV officers (1/3 of the workforce)
• 800 DV advisors
• 4,500 DV champions.

What a difference that could make.

It does make you wonder exactly who the people are who have directed this policy. Be nice to have their names and numbers.

If you read the article they say it was COVID made them do this.

ie not me Guv ...

Which is a really stupid thing to say, as in fact it was reported there was an increase in report of domestic violence during COVID.

Maybe police in Scotland have never heard of online training, or maybe ... the idea that women were important just never happened.

<puts a tenner on option 2>

And yet you still get people claiming rights aren't like pie.