The news this week that Barra’s police officers have been awarded two accolades for exceptional work as they supported the island community after the devastating terrorist bombing at the Manchester Arena in May is fantastic news.
The Barra community team received the Team of the Year as well as the Deputy Chief Constable’s award at Tuesday’s Scottish Policing Excellence Awards. At the event, Deputy chief constable Rose Fitzpatrick said: ‘The tireless efforts of our colleagues – recognised by their peers and managers through their nominations – all contribute to our aim of keeping Scotland’s people safe. The achievements of all those nominated are an inspiration.’
And we would echo that sentiment. There is no amount of training that could have prepared them for the level of care they offered the families of Eilidh MacLeod and Laura MacIntyre and the wider community following the attack at Manchester Arena. But the compassion, time and selflessness with which they obviously went about their work is humbling and inspiring.