Forty-seven sergeants are distributed throughout the force area. Sergeants working in the outlying areas reported a sense of isolation from the rest of the force, give infrequent contact with divisional headquarters. They reported a lack of appreciation of their needs and problems by headquarters personnel. Sergeants in the busier burgh stations complained of too many 'bosses' and of having to work with many young officers on probation. Most of the sergeants gave priority to their role as an intermediary between constables and the officers with rank above sergeant. This involves being advocates for the constables under them and bearing the brunt of any criticisms from higher-ups. In their role of supervising constables, the sergeants emphasized the importance of a balance between supervising officers and trusting them to use their discretion wisely. Closely aligned to the supervisory function of the sergeants is their training function, which involves advising and assisting the constables in the performance of their duties. The sergeants agreed that an important aspect of their role is giving personal attention to any problems individual constables might be experiencing and seeing that their needs are met.