NEARLY 150 trainee police officers were sent to the frontline during COP26 after just three weeks of training.

Scotland's justice and social affairs magazine 1919 reports today that 140 probationers had their training cut short due to police shortages. 

Some of the officers, who are supposed to complete 12 weeks of training before being sent out on duty, were dispatched to the climate summit in Glasgow, while others "plugged gaps" in other parts of the country. 

Police Scotland confirmed the decision and said each trainee was assessed before being sent out and was always paired with a senior police officer. 

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On female probationer told 1919 she had a knife pulled on her, an incident which was confirmed by the senior officer she was working with, and she was also called to a sudden death despite the fact she had not yet received the appropriate training. 

She said: "Even after 12 weeks being at the college it would be a big adjustment leaving, you'd be worried after the 12 weeks, never mind three. 

"We had stopped someone which was was initially a drugs search and he actually had a knife on him. 

"That was a bit of a worry because it was just the two of us that were there. 

"He was resisting arrest, spitting, being abusive, but that's the only aggressive person I've come across so far."

Speaking about the sudden death, she added: "I had never seen a dead body so that was my biggest worry. 

"You usually get an opportunity to go to the mortuary to prepare yourself for it, so that was my biggest thing to deal with."

Her senior officer said the move was "unusual". 

They stated: "I've got 15 years in the job and I've been a tutor for seven or eight years, and it's only really when resources are rock bottom. 

"She and a lot of others have just been punted out after three weeks and the only thing they know about the law is their common sense."

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It is understood the 140 probationers will now continue to work on the frontline until they go back to the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan later this month to finish their training. 

Deputy chief officer David Page told 1919: "We utilised 140 probationers undergoing officer training with Police Scotland during the COP26 policing operation. 

"The majority were sent to our local policing divisions and departments around the country and were tasked with assisting 'business-as-usual', while others were deployed to work specifically at COP26. 

"These recruits had all received instruction in core policing skills, first aid and officer safety training prior to being deployed, and the skillset and readiness of each officer was taken into account. 

"They were accompanied on deployment by experienced officers."

David Hamilton, chair of the Scottish Police Federation, said: "Nobody would choose for officers with just three weeks training to be deployed in an operational environment. 

"This however is policing in 21 century Scotland where we simply can't afford not to use every resource that we have. 

"I was surprised to meet a number of these probationers at COP26 as they were only ever meant to be backfilling in 'business-as-usual' - but they were being well looked after by their colleagues and I'm sure will have picked up some important skills and experiences. 

"However, I suspect those who were working in 'business-as-usual' will have had the biggest shock and hope that the volume of demand, lack of resources and danger they face every day doesn't discourage them from returning to finish their training."

To read the full article from 1919 Magazine, click HERE.