Councillor calls for capital conviction for people who kill police

Life should mean life says Bob Brawn

A politician has called for the Scottish Government to reintroduce the capital murder conviction for those found guilty of killing police officers.

Writing to Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf, Blairgowrie and Glens Scottish Conservative councillor Bob Brawn has said those who kill officers should face life behind bars without the possibility of parole.

He is asking the Scottish Government to bring back the statutory offence of aggravated murder in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

A capital murder conviction used to carry the death penalty as a possible punishment.

His calls come following the death of PC Andrew Harper and the news last week assaults on officers in Scotland have risen to a five-year high.

The last Scottish police officer killed in the line of duty was PC Lewis Fulton, who was stabbed while serving the thenStrathclyde Police force in 1994.

The man who stabbed him, Philip McFadden, a schizophrenic, was remanded at the State Hospital Carstairs indefinitely following his conviction.

Mr Brawn said: “Violent assaults on police officers in Scotland have risen to more than 1,600 in the last year.

“Consequently, my constituents believe – a view I support – that society must afford them an enhanced status of protection under the law, not just as individuals but for the uniform they wear and for what it represents.

“With that in mind, and the indications coming from the new home secretary, I believe this would be a good time for the Scottish Government to take the lead in this matter and that being found guilty of murdering a police officer should carry a mandatory life sentence, without any chance of release.

“And I make no apologies in supporting the view, killing a police officer should be classed as capital murder with the appropriate penalty attached.

“The rule of law, which we as a democratic society have put in place by our consent, must prevail and any transgression must carry suitable punishment to act as a deterrent.

“Those among us who enforce our laws should have the confidence that society will support them by imposing the appropriate penalties without fail.”

Mr Brawn said he also supported the Scottish Police Federation’s calls for all officers to be equipped with Taser weapons.

Picture: Kris Miller. Councillor Bob Brawn wrote to Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf, above.