Police will scale down their presence at some of the north-east’s biggest events this summer.
Under changes being implemented by the force, bobbies will become a rarer sight at Highland games, gigs and farm shows.
Chief Inspector Richard Craig, area commander for Aberdeenshire South, has announced plans to reduce the number officers at the 270 events held across the region every year.
Instead, he wants organisers of events such as the Turriff Show, Braemar Gathering and Aboyne Highland Games to take more responsibility for safety, and to work closely with their security staff.
The police chief said the approach would allow his division to make the most of its resources, and would mean officers would not get “abstracted from their day jobs”.
Ch Insp Craig added the division would be following a model used in the policing of Aberdeen FC games – where there is little or no police presence outwith of the major clashes.
He said there was traditionally a “high police presence” at the major events across the Aberdeenshire, but that it was time for a change.
Under the plans, the likes of the region’s Highland games, farming shows and New Years gigs could involve less bobbies on the beat.
Ch Insp Craig said despite the changes the force will always be on call to deal with “any criminality and disorder that arises”.
The approach has already been tried and tested in 2015 at the likes of Open Air in the Square – with the “refining” coming this year.
He will only move towards down-scaling police presence at a major event if its organisers have carried out risk assessments and drafted safety plans.
“If they have all that in place I have all the confidence that is a really well-run event,” Ch Insp Craig said.
“We can then reduce the number of police officers needed to support that event.
“That is not saying we’ll get to the stage we have no need to have police officers around, but during the day we’ll look to reduce the number of officers there.
“It is something I think the organisers of the events are coming around to, they are actually feeling they have got more responsibility and want that onus of responsibility placed upon them. It is their event. They don’t want incidents of disorder.”
He said his staff would continue “policing events in a proper way”, adding: “Our approach wouldn’t change in terms of how we police it – going in and making sure they comply with licensing requirements and making sure there isn’t disorder.
“If you are running a safe and secure event people can go enjoy the event in a safe environment – there isn’t a need for significant resources to be there. That is the approach we are moving towards.”
Ian Scott, chairman of the Aboyne Highland Games yesterday said he was welcoming of the changes.
He said the games committee had been campaigning for lower police presence at the not-for-profit event for years, in order to reduce charges associated with their involvement.
He added the games has a trustee which manages all health and safety matters, with security also handled by Grampian Security.
Mr Scott said: “Richard has been a breath of fresh air. He was the first to recognise we are not a high-threat event as far as anti-social behaviour, violence or anything like that.”
He said the games had in the past been “filled up with loads of bobbies everywhere” adding “there was nothing for them to do”.
Mr Scott said: “We have got another layer of protection in that we pay for security at the games and at the dances on Friday and Saturday.
“If there is anybody who has had too much to drink we’ll handle them and hand them over to the bobbies.”
The changes would not affect the protection of the Royal Family at the Braemar Gathering – who are always accompanied by a specially-assigned police unit.