Four Police Scotland secondees have taken up duty on Arran to supplement resources for the busy summer season.
PCs Cameron McClymont, Laura Robertson and Steven Young arrived this week with another, Megan Ferguson, due to arrive in a week.
All three of the new officers have previously visited the island during holidays and unofficial visits and all are particularly keen on learning about rural policing in smaller communities.
PC Young normally works in Stirling, covering a wide geographical area, so he is looking forward to the change from city centre policing to community orientated policing.
PC McClymont usually works in Partick and says he us delighted to be chosen to experience a different type of policing - in a place he describes as “stunning”.
PC Robertson is normally stationed in Cumbernauld and put her name forward for the summer secondment. She says she is keen to learn about policing on the island and is looking forward to working with the community.
The arrival of the summer secondees coincided with the last working day of Kevin Blackley, who has served as the island’s sergeant since October 2021.
Sergeant Blackley is a strong proponent of community policing and has been involved in a number of initiatives and community events. His community involvement and engagement with groups, organisations and schools earned him respect as the friendly, but firm, face of policing on Arran.
Along with his even-handed and considered approach to policing and public awareness campaigns, he helped set up a number of initiatives which will continue to pay dividends long after his departure.
Sergeant Blackley told the Banner: “Regrettably, my tenure on Arran has come to an end. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those in the community and partner agencies who have helped and supported myself and the island’s policing team during my time here.
“Since taking up the post, some of the more challenging incidents have involved the ferry and displaced travellers. In that respect, I have worked closely with other agencies and island businesses to develop a ‘fail to sail’ plan which now gives structure to each organisation in the event groups are stranded on the island.
“Personal and community resilience has also progressed and Arran is now far better placed to deal with issues such as extreme weather and prolonged power outages. The ’fail to sail’ plan can be adapted to assist the island community in coping with these incidents.”
He added: “Policing Arran, whilst challenging at times, has undoubtedly been the highlight of my career. From covering for island officers on leave in the late 1990s/early 2000s and being a seconded officer for the summer in 2003, through to taking up my role as the island’s sergeant, it has been my privilege to live as part of the community and to lead Arran`s policing team.
"The support from other responder agencies when dealing with challenging incidents is unparalleled and that sense of community spirit, which is evident across the island, sets Arran apart from other areas I have policed.
“I think being out and about, speaking to as many people as I could and being visible to the community is an integral part of the job here and I will miss the conversations with the many locals on my travels round the island, or out with my dog. I apologise that I haven’t had to the opportunity to speak in person with a lot of the contacts I have formed here prior to my departure.
“Ferries permitting, I will continue to come over regularly as a visitor."
Sergeant Blackley will now be based in Kilmarnock, where he has taken up a temporary posting as an inspector in Ayrshire Police Division. The post for a new island sergeant has been advertised and a permanent replacement is expected to be announced soon.
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