Police thank health team for giving officers

BUSINESS activity in the private sector in Scotland dropped steeply in January due to lockdown, according to a business report.

The latest Royal Bank of Scotland purchasing managers’ index (PMI) recorded not only lower business activity, but also a reduction in jobs in the private sector.

The report’s business activity index – a measure of combined manufacturing and service-sector output – fell to 33.3 in January from 47.3 in December, marking the fifth month in a row of lowered activity.

An index score of 50 or above is regarded as growth, with anything lower seen as a fall in business.

Many of the businesses also reported they had reduced staff numbers – with higher losses reported in service industries versus manufacturing ones.

Despite the challenging conditions, private-sector firms in January recorded the strongest level of confidence with regards to activity over the next 12 months since April 2014, buoyed by vaccine hopes.

POLICE officers keeping the streets safe during the pandemic were treated to leftover vaccines by thoughtful NHS staff.

Frontline workers at the Castlemilk vaccination centre, set up in the community sports centre, jabbed 40 police officers with shots that may have otherwise gone to waste on Friday evening.

David Hamilton, the chair of the Scottish Police Federation, hailed the quick-thinking health workers.

He said: “Access to end-ofday vaccinations, although small in number, has been a huge morale boost for all our officers.

“I would like to thank the local command team and health board for acting so quickly, saving vaccines going to waste and for supporting my members, all of whom are at great personal risk as they are exposed to Covid-19 in the community.

“It is vital now that the government recognises the criticality of policing in curbing this pandemic and appropriately prioritises officers in the next phase programme.”

Mr Hamilton has made repeated pleas to the Scottish Government to have police officers – who he argues are at high risk of catching and spreading the killer virus due to the nature of their work – of the vaccine