Men jailed for 17 years for attempted murder on Hamilton officer
PC Mark Smith is still waiting for reconstructive surgery on his ankle two years later.
Last updated 14th Sep 2026
Two men have been for 17 years for trying to murder a police officer in Hamilton two years ago.
Thirty-five year-old Mark Smith approached Douglas Mills Senior and Douglas Mills Junior who were sitting in a stationary vehicle on August 30 2024 before the sped off.
He was dragged along by the car and left with fractures to his skull and a traumatic brain injury.
Earlier the two men were jailed at the High Court in Glasgow.
Constable Mark Smith has been speaking about the impact the attack has had on him.
He said: “As a police constable we often think of ourselves as able to deal with anything from trauma, stress, violence and any number of things thrown our way.
“I was simply doing my job that day, but what happened to me is not something that I could ever have prepared for, nor is it something that will ever leave me.
“I was more than fortunate to survive, but part of me did not survive that day. Part of me was lost and two years later, I have started to accept that I will never be the same again.
“My job was a huge part of my identity. I’m unsure of what the future holds for me, and I fear that I will never be able to return to frontline policing."
He is still waiting for reconstructive surgery.
Assistant Chief Constable Wendy Middleton, Chair of Police Scotland’s Your Safety Matters Oversight Group, said: “Assaults on officers and staff are absolutely unacceptable. Everyone who works for Police Scotland has the fundamental right to come home from each shift unharmed.
“The attack on Constable Mark Smith, who was serving his local community and keeping people safe, was despicable.
"Not only has this had an effect on Mark and his family, but it has also had an impact on his close colleagues on the shift and the wider organisation.
“The safety and well-being of our people is a priority for Police Scotland, and we have seen significant investment in operational safety training, the introduction of body worn video and officers equipped with Tasers, in a bid to reduce the risk of violence towards police.
“We do however continue to keep all assaults against officers and staff under close review to ensure we are doing everything possible to support and better protect our people.”
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