Polar Star - March - May 2024
Tuesday 19 March 2024
 7.2°C   SSE Strong Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

Police / Five pupils charged in connection with Brae school vandalism

Local police chief also answers questions on tasers and roll out of mobile devices

FIVE young people have been charged in connection with a recent spate of vandalism at Brae High School.

Shetland’s chief inspector Lindsay Tulloch. Photo: Shetland News

Police chief inspector Lindsay Tulloch gave the update at Tuesday’s meeting of Shetland’s community safety and resilience board, where he confirmed the five people were pupils at the school.

Tulloch said six cases of vandalism at the school had been reported in total, and added that he hoped the charges would bring an end to the trend.

The number of people detected for speeding in Shetland between April and June, meanwhile, was more than double the amount in the same period last year.

A report presented to the board showed that 51 people were detected for speeding, while the same figure for 2018/19 was 20.

The increase has been linked to increased proactivity in addition to police targeting areas identified to officers by community councils and the public.

The current figure for the financial year to date is 65.

There has been a spike in the number of vandalism incidents in Shetland, with a current year-to-date total of 64 – a “significant increase” on the 42 at the same point last year, Tulloch said.

The number of thefts by shoplifting in April to June was 20 – an increase of 15 from the same period last year.

The police report said that the force is providing “ongoing liaison and support” to retailers who have been targeted, with business owners subsequently having an increased awareness of shoplifting and are more confident to report incidents.

Officers have also carried out 34 per cent more checks of licensed premises, which they believe correlates with a reduction in violence.

The number of checks in April to June amounted to 639.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

 

South mainland councillor Allison Duncan, meanwhile, questioned whether overall reduced police budgets in Scotland could have an effect on local services.

Tulloch said he had received assurances from Scotland’s chief constable that there would be no cuts in staff numbers locally.

“I have no fear that the number of police officers in Shetland will reduce in any form,” he stressed.

The police chief also received a question from Duncan about the use of tasers, which were introduced last year.

Tulloch defended their use and said they allow staff to deescalate situations where there is a risk of injury.

“I think it’s been a very positive move in relation to officer safety,” he said.

“It’s kept people safe.”

Tulloch also spoke about the introduction of mobile devices for police officers across the Highlands and Islands to allow them to remotely access systems for administrative duties.

It is hoped that the system will allow officers to log details of crimes and file paperwork remotely instead of having to travel back to an office.

Tulloch said it should be rolled out in Shetland by the end of the year, with training due to take place soon.

Cooper questioned how the mobile coverage in Shetland could affect the devices, citing the Kames as a place where signal would be patchy.

“To what extent are you confident we have reasonable coverage in Shetland?” he asked.

Tulloch said he was confident there would be no major issues with reception, although he acknowledged there will be some spots with no signal.

Driving a mile to get reception instead of heading back to the office would be a benefit, he claimed.

“We really do welcome it,” Tulloch said. “It will be a fantastic leap forward for us.”

Become a supporter of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.

Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has  over 600 supporters  who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.

Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -

  • Bring you the headlines as they happen;
  • Stay editorially independent;
  • Give a voice to the community;
  • Grow site traffic further;
  • Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.

 

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.