Highland police chief hopes body-worn cameras will tackle assaults on officers
363 assaults on officers were recorded in 2024-25 in the Highlands and Islands division
Last updated 17th Jun 2025
There are hopes a high rate of assaults on Highland police will be helped by officers wearing cameras.
Body worn video has already been rolled out in Tayside and will now be given to 400 officers in the North of Scotland.
Police Scotland have outlined how the equipment can help to de-escalate incidents, improve public trust in policing and reduce complaints, as well as support officer and staff safety, and bring wider benefits to the criminal justice system.
As the roll out progresses, more than 10,500 Home Office approved Motorola Solutions VB400 cameras will be issued to frontline officers from constable to inspector ranks, and to police custody staff, across the country.
Over the next 18 months, there will be a gradual increase in officers with body worn video cameras across Scotland.
Body worn video 'key priority'
According to Police Scotland, 363 assaults on officers were recorded in 2024-25 in the Highlands and Islands Division.
The five-year average for the area is 332.
Nationally, 7168 assaults on police officers were recorded in 2024-25.
Speaking at Dingwall Police Station, Chief Superintendent Rob Shepherd said: "Because of our diverse geography and how spread out we all are, many of my officers deploy on their own in vehicles in some of our more remote areas.
"There is often significantly larger spaces between officers for supporting each other.
"Also, we have quite a high rate of assaults on police in the Highlands and Islands.
"All of those things contribute to the impact the footage will have."
Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors added: “The national roll out of the body worn video cameras is a key priority for us and is one of the ways that we can work towards our vision of safer communities and less crime.
“Body worn video can significantly enhance public confidence and support officer and public safety by providing effective and transparent evidence of police and public interactions.
“The technology will also improve the quality of evidence presented in court to deliver faster justice for victims by increasing early guilty pleas and reducing time spent at court for victims, witnesses and police officers.
"There is strong public and partner support for body worn video in Scotland and we will continue to explain our use of this important technology including assurance around data privacy and human rights considerations."
Police Scotland have said that every frontline uniformed police officer, including Special Constables, will be expected to wear a video camera on their uniform while on duty and to activate it when using police powers, whether a stop and search, an arrest of a suspect or executing a search warrant.
The footage may be used as evidence, but it will not replace existing procedures and requirements when gathering all available information.
It will remain a matter for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) to review and determine competence on a case-by-case basis.
Video footage will be uploaded to secure police systems and the evidence will be shared with the COPFS using the new Digital Evidence Sharing Capability (DESC) system.
The Scottish police force also said the introduction of body worn video is not intended to encourage the greater use of single police officer deployments or alter current deployment models for policing.