Fewer Specials are on the beat

New research shows the number of Special Constables working in Police Scotland’s Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Division has almost halved since 2013.

Figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives reveal there are now 23 volunteers working across the division, down from 40 officers since the introduction of Police Scotland five years ago.

According to the statistics, just one Special Constable was recruited in 2017, which the Tories say could impact on local communities.

MSP for West Scotland Maurice Golden said: “Special Constables are among the most visible on our streets and play a huge part in engaging with our communities in Renfrewshire.

“It is extremely concerning that in the space of a few years, there has been such a dramatic fall in the number of Special Constables, while efforts to recruit also appear to have completely flatlined.

“The SNP Government must urgently address why this has been the case and whether this is going to be the unfortunate future our communities face with policing in Scotland.

“They have to understand the role special constables play in our local communities on a daily basis and make sure that these numbers vastly improve in the coming years.”

The figures show that since 2013, over 750 officers have been lost, with numbers down from 1387 in 2013 to 610 in 2018 in Scotland overall.