GRIMESTOPPERS
Just days after ‘panic bags’ furore, Police Scotland face ridicule for offering advice on washing hands
MANY police recruits dream of cracking murder cases or smashing drug gangs.
But while rookies may long to clean up crime on the mean streets, Police Scotland’s latest advice has its sights set rather lower – on wiping out grime from citizens’ digits.
The force is facing ridicule for issuing guidance on the correct washing techniques to help people make their hands ‘safe’.
The 12-step tutorial – published on social media – covers various stages including wetting hands, applying soap, washing, rinsing and drying, and recommends not touching taps in case they are infected with germs.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘It’s hard to see how this fits into the overall police strategy of keeping Scotland Daily Mail, September 10, 2019 safe. As they correctly point out, Police Scotland is one of the worstfunded forces in the UK.
‘Spending time and money on initiatives like this is hardly going to improve that situation and begs the question how much we already expect from our overstretched police force.’
The guidance is part of September Preparedness Month, the scheme that last week resulted in the force being mocked for advising people to pack a ‘grab-and-go’ bag for emergencies.
The handwashing guide was posted on Police Scotland control rooms Twitter feed on September 6, and gives wordsand-pictures instructions.
It advises people to ensure they ‘apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces’ before performing a variety of cleaning routines, including ‘right palm over left dorsum with interlaced fingers and vice versa’ and ‘rotational rubbing, backwards and forwards with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa’.
The force recommends drying hands with a ‘singleuse towel’ which is then used to turn off the tap.
Alongside the tutorial, a Police Scotland message reads: ‘September is Preparedness Month.
‘Many illnesses are spread through contact with hands. Frequent handwashing is an effective way to kill germs, with hand sanitisers providing additional protection. Stop the spread of germs and stay well.’
However, public reaction to the advice was damning.
One Twitter-user responded: ‘Is it OK if we use hand gel and we can fit that in our “bag of preparedness”?’
Another asked: ‘Why are you tweeting this American nonsense?’
David Hamilton vice-chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said: ‘The police service is now tied into civil contingency planning partnerships and we are coming up to flu season so I can see why Police Scotland has ended up carrying this message.
‘However, the force has to be very careful that it’s not seen to be patronising the public or putting out frivolous messages because otherwise, when we really do need their help, they may be less inclined to assist us.’
He added: ‘Handwashing and grab-and-go bags are both things that will make the public wonder why on earth the police are getting involved.’
Last week, Police Scotland was accused of being ‘crass’ for advising members of the public to pack a ‘grab-and- go bag’ containing items including a torch, radio, batteries, food, water and medication because ‘emergencies can happen at any time’.
The force last night defended the hygiene guide.
A spokesman said: ‘The messaging was provided to us to be shared as part of a general resilience awarenessraising campaign that runs each year during September which emergency services and partners across Britain are taking part in.
‘We work with partner agencies routinely to share each other’s safety messaging.’
‘Patronising the public’