Improved officer ID cards to be rolled out across Police Scotland

Police in Scotland are being provided with improved and updated identification in the wake of the Sarah Everard case.

Officers and staff on the force will be given new warrant and authorisation cards which include additional security features to make them more difficult to replicate.

It comes after Ms Everard was kidnapped, raped and murdered by Met Police officer Wayne Couzens.

At the Old Bailey, the court heard that Couzens used his warrant card and handcuffs to stage a false arrest of Ms Everard on the evening of March 3, 2021, as she walked home in London after meeting a friend.

The new warrant and authorisation cards being issued by Police Scotland feature the Police Scotland logo, a hologram and the signature of chief constable Iain Livingstone.

Police Scotland have said the cards have been developed over a number of months and will be rolled out in the coming weeks.

Deputy chief constable Fiona Taylor said: “The provision of new warrant and authorisation cards is an important opportunity to ensure identification includes clear, up to date, images of officers and staff.

“The new identification also includes enhanced security features which makes it harder to replicate.

“Officers work all across Scotland, every minute of every day to help people and will approach any member of the public who appears distressed or vulnerable, to offer support and assistance.

“The onus is on policing to build and maintain the public confidence and consent critical to our legitimacy and our ability to keep our communities and citizens safe.

“Officers will always carry identification and will be happy to provide further reassurance about who they are and their reason for speaking with someone if requested, including through the new verification process introduced on October 2.”