Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City top ranking of police, fire and ambulance assaults

New analysis shows that the north east has been Scotland’s worst area for assaults on emergency services staff - for 10 years running.

Figures obtained from a Freedom of Information Request have revealed that, in every year from 2015 to 2025, the north east has had the country’s highest rate of assaults against police, ambulance and fire personnel per head of population.

This year, up to August 31, the number of emergency service assaults within the North East Police Division, per 10,000 people, was nearly a quarter higher than the second-placed Greater Glasgow.

The number was also nearly twice the Scottish average of 11 per 10,000.

In total, the North East Police Division, which covers Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City, recorded 526 charges in the time period.

This figure was slightly lower than the ten-year-high recorded in 2021.

Police responded to the figures by urging members of the public to respect officers, labelling the assaults “absolutely unacceptable”.

“I will re-iterate the clear and consistent message that any and all assaults on police officers and members of police staff are absolutely unacceptable,” Chief Superintendent Kate Stephen said.

“It is not part of any job to be assaulted and it is important that we continue to report assaults, which are in themselves serious crimes.

“It is something that we keep under close review, to ensure we are doing all we can to support our people.

"Crucially, the injury rate has seen a consistent decline and the Health and Safety reporting rate has increased suggesting we are building a culture where people are more likely to report.

"This allows us to build a more accurate picture of what officers and staff are experiencing, which means, along with improved operational safety training and the roll out of kit like Body Worn Video, we can identify trends and target areas to improve officer and staff safety."

Moray MSP Richard Lochhead said: “A roll out of body-worn video cameras to officers in Scotland has begun which will offer extra protection to officers, as well as the public interacting with officers, by recording evidence which can be used in court should officers be assaulted while on duty.

“Moray is well served by the exceptional dedication and commitment of our police officers and the work they do every day to keep communities safe.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to our police officers who keep us safe and, as these statistics show, put their own safety and wellbeing on the line so it is disappointing to hear of the number of assaults on officers in the last year.”