Police Scotland has become the latest organisation to sign the UK Armed Forces Covenant.
In doing so the UK’s second-largest police force has made a commitment to support the country’s servicemen and women wherever and however it can and to ensure no member of the Armed Forces should suffer any disadvantage as a result of their service.
The 17 April signing – by Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone – took place at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan. The document was co-signed on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) by Colonel Charlie Wallace, Deputy Commander of 51 Brigade.
The move enables Police Scotland staff and officers to become members of the Reserves, as far as the operational demands of the service allows. It also underlines the force’s commitment to supporting its current officers who are also Reservists and entitles staff to up to 10 days’ paid leave to attend reservist training.
A new Standard Operating Procedure has also been issued to standardise conditions of service for those within Police Scotland who continue to serve in the military.
ACC Wayne Mawson.
Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Mawson, who also attended the ceremony, said: “We recognise the valued contribution members of the armed forces bring to Police Scotland and the transferrable, specialist skills military personnel can bring to their roles as a police officer or as a member of police staff. Signing the Convenant today reinforces our support of the military communities and we want to continue that relationship going forward.”
Since the formation of Police Scotland, a number of Reservists have been deployed on operations overseas.
Lt Col David Bradley.
Sergeant David Bradley, a Response Sergeant within Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Division, has recently undertaken a six-and-a-half month tour of Afghanistan with the Army.
Sgt Bradley, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Military Police, deployed to command the UK logistics and human resource headquarters, the United Kingdom National Support Element (Afghanistan) based in Kabul.
The headquarters were responsible for the logistics support for all UK forces deployed in Afghanistan, with Lt Col Bradley responsible for managing the reception of strategic air, supply, fleet, infrastructure and human resourcing.
“This was the first time since I joined the police that I had mobilised for deployment as a Reservist,” he said.
“I have been very fortunate that throughout my police career my Reserve service has been supported by my own police leaders. In this instance in particular my Divisional staff within K Division were great both before and after the mobilisation and deployment.
“The tour itself was my most intellectually challenging, but genuinely professionally rewarding.
“Police officers who serve as Reservists bring leadership experience and increased personal resilience to the job.
“The MoD is an excellent trainer and Reservists get to bring those training and operational experiences into their police service. It’s very pleasing to see that as a police service we are signing up to the Covenant.”
Police Scotland joins more than 2000 UK organisations to have now signed the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Covenant signing was organised by Highland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association and attended – along with the signatories – by the organisation’s Regional Employer Engagement Director Ron Macgregor and Head of Engagement Dai John.
Dai John said: “We are absolutely delighted that by signing the Armed Forces Covenant Police Scotland has demonstrated its commitment to the volunteer reservists drawn from among its staff and officers. The Covenant is there to support both the individual reservist and the employer by helping to balance the challenges of reserve service with a full time career, ensuring that the needs of both are met as fully as possible. On behalf of the volunteer reservists serving in all our Armed Forces we offer our sincerest thanks.”
DCC Iain Livingstone and Colonel Charlie Wallace with the Armed Forces Covenant.
DCC Livingstone, Colonel Wallace and Ron Macgregor.
Colonel Wallace.
Ron Macgregor tells the audience of the value of Reservists to employers.
ACC Mawson with members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines reserves/Police Scotland and, second left, Captain Chris Smith.
ACC Mawson with members of the Army Reserves/Police Scotland.
ACC Mawson with members of the RAF Reserves/Police Scotland.
