Police chiefs plan to remove officers from courts across Scotland in a move branded reckless by trade unions.
The measures aim to save the cash-strapped force money by allowing officers stationed in court buildings to be deployed elsewhere.
A pilot scheme at Edinburgh Sheriff court has been running since May with a third of officers removed and court staff equipped with panic alarms instead.
Sources told the Sunday Mail that on one occasion an officer forgot their pager so was unaware that staff had sounded the alarm and several other times officers were scrambled to help from elsewhere in the building when disorder broke out.
One court employee said: “There are incidents in courts up and down the country every day.
“People bring in knives, syringes…all sorts. And with a reduction in police it’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.”
Despite the Edinburgh pilot scheme yet to be fully evaluated Police Scotland appear to have decided to roll out the policy anyway.
The force’s three year business plan published this week stated: “We will remove officers who are performing security duties at court.”
Chief Constable Jo Farrell previously said the force spent £7m a year policing courts with 150 officers stationed across 39 sites.
Trade unions have warned their removal will put staff working there at risk, as well as the public attending court either as jurors, witnesses or victims.
The PCS union’s National Officer for Scotland Ruby Gibson said: “Our union opposed the pilot going ahead in Edinburgh Sheriff court and we warned the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service and Police Scotland that this posed a health and safety risk to our members and other court users.
“During the pilot period, there were incidents in the courts that resulted in dangerous situations for those present.
“So it’s shocking that even before the pilot has been evaluated the Police Scotland plan for 2024-2027 includes a statement of intent to ‘remove officers who are performing security duties at court’.
“Serious questions will need to be raised about culpability in the event of injury or harm to staff or the public.”
In July representatives from the PCS and FDA unions met with justice secretary Angela Constance to express their concerns about safety.
Talks are also ongoing between the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) and Police Scotland about the plans.
The Scottish Conservative Shadow Justice Secretary Liam Kerr MSP said: “SNP funding cuts have resulted in police numbers falling to their lowest level since 2007.
“The situation is so bad that Police Scotland have even stopped investigating some crimes.
“Any plan to reduce the security presence of officers in Scottish courts is alarming because it’s essential that staff, witnesses and members of the public are not just safe, but feel safe too.”
David Fraser, Executive Director of Court Operations at SCTS said: “The new policing model piloted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court which reduced the number of police officers maintaining public order in that court continues while an evaluation is being undertaken. This evaluation is likely to inform Police Scotland’s thinking on future policing models at other Courts.
“However the environment and dynamics of each court is very different and individual risk assessments will be required at each and every location to ensure public safety is maintained if a change to the current policing model were to be proposed by Police Scotland.
“SCTS is committed to work with Police Scotland to ensure that public safety continues to be maintained across the court estate”
Chief Superintendent Pat Campbell said the Edinburgh pilot was intended to make the force more efficient and it was done “after significant consultation with our criminal justice partners”.
He said: “This pilot has concluded and is now subject to a multi-agency evaluation which is ongoing and thereafter will be subject to governance and consideration by Police Scotland and our partners around any future rollout.
“Any new Court Officer operating model that reduces the Police Officer numbers within the Court structure will be returned to local policing divisions to support operational policing.
“This is part of the Chief Constable’s commitment to strengthening the frontline and reconnecting with our communities.”
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