| Operation Karkin - A message from the JBB Chairman |
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Dear Colleagues, As the Force and the wider country begins a return to normality in the wake of the disturbances that have blighted an number of English cities and as the inquest begins into the causes of the disturbances and the response to them I feel it is important to acknowledge the contribution made by the Federated ranks in Lothian and Borders Police.
In a year that has been filled with uncertainty over the future direction of Policing and in which our pay, conditions and pensions have been subject to remorseless attack you have demonstrated as clearly as ever your willingness to stand up and be counted. You have demonstrated the now expected high levels of professionalism and exceptional flexibility in responding to the demands of Operation Karkin. The public order trained officers that made up the Lothian Borders contingent dispatched to England have now returned and after a short rest period have again been called to assist colleagues in London. They ably assisted those colleagues and received high praise from Chief Constables south of the border. Many of those who have not returned south will again be called on, on Thursday to provide a public order presence for the Hearts v Tottenham football match. For the others that continued to Police the Force area you took the cancelled rest days and changes to 12 hour shifts in your stride. While I am sure many of you had your private lives disrupted and your families inconvenienced you recognised the need to support our colleagues in England and the importance of Operation Karkin and demonstrated a commitment to policing deserving of the highest praise. Please accept my thanks and also pass them to your long suffering families. Stewart Sandilands Chairman JBB |