A couple of years ago, Police Scotland Community Council Quarterley Inspector Meetings were  introduced and promised to be consisitent. This following feedback from Community Councils that, with the loss of local police officers and the increasing centralisation of policing, local policing updates were no longer reaching our communities. They were intended to improve communication and provide Community Councils with the opportunity to raise local concerns directly with Police Scotland. This is particularly important for remote and rural communities such as ours.

During the Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Area Committee meeting on Monday 3 August, Councillor Kraft asked Inspector Daniel Jack directly, "Are you managing to keep up with Community Council meetings?"

The response given did not reflect Garve and District Community Council's experience, in view of that:-
An email was sent to Councillor Kraft outlining our experience and clarifying the position for GDCC perspective. 

• The only quarterly Inspector meeting held in 2026 took place on 13 January 2026. This meeting itself replaced the scheduled December 2025 meeting.

• The meeting due on 22 April 2026 was cancelled. Community Councils were advised this was due to "competing demands within North Highland Command" and were told it would be rearranged. No replacement date or invitation has been received.

• The July quarterly meeting also did not take place. Community Councils received no notification or explanation regarding this meeting.

• At the Area Committee meeting, Inspector Jack indicated he believed the next meeting would be in September. If that proceeds, it will mean approximately nine months between quarterly meetings.

• The last Ward 5 monthly police report previously received was for April 2026, which arrived on 21 May 2026. No reports were received for May or June.

These issues were discussed again at last night's Community Council meeting.

At the January Inspector meeting, Community Councils also asked for the monthly reports to contain more meaningful local information to help communities understand policing issues affecting their own areas. The July report is four pages long, it contains very little substantive information  relating to policing issues within Ward 5 or our local communities. Nothing of substance and lacking the detail we recived before whereas more detailed info was the expectation!

Regular engagement between Police Scotland and Community Councils is important. These meetings and reports were introduced to improve communication between Police Scotland and Community Councils following concerns that local policing information was no longer reaching communities. For remote and rural areas such as ours, that communication is particularly important.

For anyone who would like to hear the discussion at Monday's Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Area Committee meeting, the webcast is available here:

https://bit.ly/THC-AreaCommittee3Aug2026

Response recived from Cllr. Kraft "Yes he acknowledged the April meeting was cancelled and gave the reasons.
I'll follow up to pin down a date for September."

Wholly inadequate and our reply has not been acknowledged despite being sent immediately the inadequate reply was recieved. 

We replied

"They are due to be quarterly. April missed and July also missed.
He said - the last was due to holidays not the reason we were given, for the April cancellation.
July meeting, we didn't even hear about.
As said, if one happens in September, it will be nine months between meetings.
He did not say that. He said they were happening but the last was missed.
Neither was there any mention of why months reports had not been received.
Just to add that the January 2026 meeting was also a replacement for December 2025 too.
Accuracy and detail are important especially when you asked the question directly."

When we get an update from Police Scotland we will update you along with the missing reports!
For additional clarity Cllr Kraft is invited to the meetings too, though has not attending any when we have.