Scottish civilians to help police investigate crime

by mudricky | April 7, 2009 at 10:44 pm

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Independent evaluators have giving their belssing to the idea of using civilians in Scotland to help the police investigate crimes with the police.

It is Central Scotland Police who have been piloting the idea and have so for a year so far in Falkirk.

Since the trial begain last year the group have worked on 3500 crimes and their duties as investigative assistants include reviewing CCTV footage, interviewing witnesses and carrying out door-to-door inquiries.

The plan is to send it out to all the police forces in Scotland.

Central Scotland police, one of Scotland's smallest, delt with 200,000 crimes last year.

Reports say that the piolt has gave Central Scotland police an extra 1,200 police hours every month.

The Scottish Government paid for this unit.

THE use of civilians to carry out investigations for the police appears set to be extended across Scotland with independent evaluators giving their strong backing to a controversial pilot scheme.Critics have branded the Priority Crime Unit set up by Central Scotland Police "policing on the cheap" – but The Scotsman has learned it has been given independent backing by a new report which supports its wider use.

The Falkirk-based unit has seen specially-trained civilians gather evidence in 3,500 crimes since it was began work last year.

Tasks carried out by the investigative assistants include reviewing CCTV footage, interviewing witnesses and carrying out door-to-door inquiries.

Senior officers are hopeful that Kevin Smith, the chief constable of Central Scotland Police, will extend the scheme across the whole force. Last year, the force dealt with nearly 20,000 crimes.

Other chief constables, keen to cut costs so more officers can be put on the beat, are closely following the scheme.