Attacks on Scotland’s police officers are soaring the Daily Record reveals – and that should worry all of us. More than 7500 were reported last year, and in some areas attacks rose by more than 28 per cent.
This follows on from previous reports of increasing violence being faced by ambulance crews, NHS workers, teachers, firefighters and shop workers. In other words, people who go out of their way to help us daily are routinely targeted as they go about their work.
The thugs who carry out these appalling crimes are beneath contempt. But what is it about our society that makes some think it’s OK to attack those who devote their lives to public service?
In some cases it will be drug or drink-fuelled scumbags carrying out these attacks on police officers. For others caught up in gangland violence, attacking the police will be a seen as a sick badge of honour.
However, a growing number of extremist protesters also seem to think they are entitled to lash out at officers just trying to maintain public order. That is a worrying trend and one we need to condemn in the strongest possible terms.
Legal protesting – even if it’s loud, unruly and raucous – is a valuable part of the democratic process. But some recent protests – involving extremists on both sides of the political spectrum – have turned nasty and resulted in widespread violence.
That is never acceptable. The police are there to do an important job. They should be shown respect for keeping us safe.
The SNP’s jubilation at winning a record fifth Holyrood election in a row quickly faded when MSPs were reminded of the reality of minority government at a time of intense pressure on public spending.
Given barely half of the electorate turned out for May’s poll, and the Nationalists’ support dropped by 10 points, John Swinney cannot claim to have been elected on a groundswell of enthusiasm.
Nicola Sturgeon has now claimed her party failed to offer a bold vision for the country, and warned the SNP should not risk losing votes to the Greens by watering down its environmental credentials.
But Sturgeon’s 2021 electoral pact between the SNP and the Greens proved to be a total disaster.
Swinney would be wise to distance himself and his party from the new cohort of Green MSPs.
Article continues below
Their views scarcely reflect the majority of Holyrood, let alone the public at large.