The actions of those who attack police officers as they carry out their duties, prevent disorder and keep communities safe has been condemned in the strongest terms by Police Scotland.
Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: “This weekend we saw a catalogue of violent incidents across Scotland, with officers being injured, assaulted and requiring hospital treatment as they attended calls during their shifts.
“These acts against our officers is shameful and cowardly. Not one of those officers left their home and families to go to work and expected to become a victim of assault. Being assaulted is simply not part of being a police officer.
“Our latest performance figures show that every day on average 21 officers are assaulted on duty. We are seeing a difference due to the actions to reduce the impact of violence towards officers as part of our Your Safety Matters programme and the introduction of Body Worn Video. However, assaulting our officers is simply unacceptable.
“We place the highest priority on the safety and wellbeing of our officers and anyone who has been assaulted is encouraged to make use of the support which is available.”
On Saturday, 7 November 2026, three officers were assaulted during a disturbance and violent disorder in the vicinity of Congress Road. Two of those officers assaulted required hospital treatment.
Two men, aged 32 and 27, will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal after they were arrested and charged with offences including police assault, obstructing police and threatening and abusive behaviour. Three other men were arrested and issued with recorded police warnings for threatening and abusive behaviour and breach of the peace.
Officers continue to carry out extensive enquiries, including examining CCTV footage.
Further arrests are expected and anyone with information about the disturbance should contact Police Scotland on 101.
Around 8.15am on Saturday, 7 November 2026 after a car was stopped by officers in Midlothian, a 23-year-old man who was driving the car struck one of the three officers in attendance, who had to be taken to hospital for treatment.
The driver has been arrested and charged and was expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 9 November 2026.
In an earlier incident, around 10.35am on Friday, 6 November, 2026, officers were violently attacked as they dealt with the report of a disturbance on a bus in Edinburgh.
Two officers were treated by paramedic colleagues at the scene of the incident.
The 38-year-old man arrested and charged in connection with this incident was also due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 9 November 2026.
