The territorial police force of the most northerly part of Scotland is no other than the Northern Constabulary. Covering the Highland council area along with the Western Isles, the Orkney Isles and the Shetland Isles, which comprise most of the Highlands and Islands area, it is the police force covering the largest geographical area in the United Kingdom. With a total land area of 31,186 square kilometres but only with a population of 300,000, it's obvious that the density is very low compared to the other force areas. Nonetheless, a situation such as doesn't mean that the Northern Constabulary has a lesser responsibility and workload than the others. From the Highlands to the Islands, the force aims to maintain and improve a hospitable and harmonious relationship within the community and vice versa. This way, promoting and actualising peace and order is effective.
History of the Northern Constabulary
It was on May 16 1975 when that current police force was formed by the merger of the pre-existing Northern Constabulary and the Sutherland Constabulary and the Inverness Constabulary along with the Argyll County Police Area and the Nairn part of the Sottish North East Counties Constabulary. Before its formation in 1975, the previous constabulary has been created in 1969 by the merger of the Caithness Constabulatory, Orkney Constabulatory and Zetland Constabulatory.
The new Northern Constabulary was created at the same time as local government reorganisation created the Highland regional council and the islands councils of the Western Isles, the Orkney Isles and the Shetland Isles. The rest of the Argyll County Police was merged into the Strathclyde Police, and the rest of the Scottish North East Counties Constabulary into the Grampian Police.
The Northern Constabulatory Today
Even though the Northern Constabulatory has the largest land area, it has the lowest number of officers with only 715 according to its latest count. The force has 71 different stations where the main headquarters is located at Inverness and the Chief Constable is George Graham.
The Northern Constabulary is split into three divisions. These are the North, Central and East where each have their own Area Commands governed by an Area Commander. These area commands are:
- Caithness Sutherland & East Ross
- Orkney
- Shetland
- Ross & Cromarty
- Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh
- Western Isles
- Inverness
- Badenoch, Strathspey & Nairn
Along with these Command Areas, the Force specialises with its programs and campaigns that tackles the legalities and the law. From Crime Prevention to Awareness Programs, the Northern Constabulary aims protect the people from any harm and educate them on certain matters involving crime, violence and terrorism as well. Together with the local organisations and the community, the responsibility of keeping a successful region doesn't lie in the hands of the public servants alone. It's the hard work, cooperation and unity of everybody.
