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Approximately 4,000 officers within Police Scotland are currently subject to driving restrictions on duty until they complete updated training designed to meet regulations introduced three years ago. This adjustment means certain officers are no longer authorized to respond to emergencies using blue lights when driving police vans, and some are temporarily barred from participating in the initial stages of pursuits. These measures were implemented immediately and will continue until the officers, making up about a quarter of the force, have undergone the required training sessions.
The legal changes underpinning these restrictions involve a new standard for police drivers, whereby courts assess their driving against that of similarly trained colleagues rather than regular motorists. This shift allows the advanced skills attained through specialized training to be factored into evaluations of whether driving is careless or dangerous. The revised criteria only apply if the officers are driving for official police purposes and have completed the appropriate training. Police Scotland reports that while 10,500 officers are trained to handle emergency vehicle responses, 4,000 have been prioritized to take part in a phased training programme that commenced this week.
Assistant Chief Constable Lynn Ratcliff emphasized that all officers operating police cars remain authorized to respond to emergencies with blue lights active. In explaining the delay in implementing the regulations, she noted the complexity and breadth of the UK-wide rules: “The regulations are UK-wide. They are comprehensive. They are complex. We deliver a wide range of driver training in Police Scotland and we have had to review thoroughly every one of those courses to understand what those regulations mean for us.” Training varies depending on role; some officers will complete a one-day course on emergency responses in police vans, while others will undergo three days of instruction focusing on driving at the beginning of pursuits. Additionally, restrictions affect officers tasked with security escort duties and escorting abnormal loads until they complete the new training requirements.
Regarding the potential impact on policing, Ratcliff remarked that blue light pursuits are uncommon and that there are adequate numbers of trained officers able to respond to emergencies during the rollout of this training. She stated, “We’re enhancing the training to make sure we align with the regulations and also provide that greater level of legal protection to our officers.” She reassured the public that police vans will continue to be seen responding to emergency calls since many officers are already trained and capability is being further improved. Pursuits of suspects or offenders by vehicle remain rare, with fewer than three such incidents occurring each day across Scotland. Brian Jones, vice-chair of the Scottish Police Federation, praised the force for initiating the training despite the anticipated operational challenges, saying, “It will have a huge abstraction on operational abilities but it’s something we’ve been asking the force to do for the last 10 to 12 years. It not only protects our officers and our members but it also protects the public we serve and gives them confidence that the officers who are attending incidents are suitably trained.”
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