News

1 July 2007
SCOTTISH POLICE FORCES SEEK PUBLIC PATIENCE AND ASSISTANCE

Sunday, July 1, 2007 at 19:30 hours

Police forces across Scotland are working together to protect and reassure their communities as the alert level across the country remains at critical – the highest possible.

Colin McKerracher, Chief Constable of Grampian Police and President of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS), said: “I would like to offer reassurance to the public that the police service is doing everything possible to keep them safe.

“All the Scottish police forces are taking a co-ordinated and targeted approach to ensuring that any disruption to normal life is kept to a minimum while at the same time playing their part in protecting their communities.

“This is an on-going counter terrorism investigation and there may be disruption to the daily lives of the people of Scotland. We would urge them to be patient and to assist in this investigation in any way possible.”

Mr McKerracher added: “We will work together to ensure that appropriate resources are made available as required to bring this situation to a successful outcome and return to normal as soon as possible.

“I would stress that community relations are important and we will be working with the minority community leaders to ensure that good relations are maintained. Any attempt to use these incidents to fuel unrest will be dealt with robustly.”

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Dickinson of Lothian and Borders Police, who speaks for  ACPOS on counter terrorism matters, added: “This is a national counter terrorism operation and while it continues the alert level nationally remains critical.

“There has been a co-ordinated response from the police service in Scotland and this has been swift and effective. This is being co-ordinated through the Scottish Police Information Co-ordination Centre (S-PICC).

There will be ongoing support for minority communities throughout Scotland and regular dialogue with community leaders.”

Note to Editors:

ACPOS is the collective organisation of Chief Constables, Deputy Chief Constables, Assistant Chief Constables and Senior Support Staff from the eight police forces in Scotland, the British Transport Police (Scotland) and the newly-formed Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA), which is the umbrella group for common police services, including the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA).

ACPOS is a strategic body which oversees and co-ordinates all aspects of the direction and development of the Scottish Police Service as a whole.  ACPOS plays a vital role in formulating policing policy and plays an active role in consultation processes with both the Scottish Parliament and the UK Parliament.

Public vigilance is extremely important and anything suspicious should be reported to the police.

For further information please contact:

David Steele, ACPOS Communications Manager
0141 435 1240
Graham MacDonell, ACPOS Communications Officer
0141 435 1241

Or, during out-of-hours: 07771 842881