Police officer numbers on decline

The number of police officers in Scotland has dropped over the past year, according to new figures.

Scottish Government statistics show there were the equivalent of 17,256 full-time police officers on March 31, a decrease of 60 from the same date in 2016.

The new figures show police numbers are still up by 1,022 since 2007, when the SNP pledged to increase the total number of officers by 1,000.

The target was an SNP commitment from 2007 until last year’s Holyrood elections, when it was dropped.

Police Scotland has already set out plans to slow recruitment between 2018 and 2020 as part of its 10-year policing plan.

Officer numbers are to be cut by 400 as the force battles to address a funding gap of almost £200 million by 2020/21.

Scottish Labour’s justice spokeswoman Claire Baker said: “Following the failure of the SNP to fully fund its promise of 1,000 extra officers, numbers are down and many are still having to back-fill roles rather than being out on the beat.

“The SNP has also overseen a dramatic reduction in the number of vital support staff, leading to a police force with very little flexibility to react to the changing nature of crime in Scotland.

“With a growing budget black hole at the heart of Police Scotland and a crisis of leadership at the top of the Scottish Police Authority, these difficulties sit at the door of the SNP.”

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “I continue to expect to see the number of police officers remaining significantly above the number we inherited in 2007.

“I have also been clear about the need for Police Scotland to consider the right mix of skills across the workforce and not just overall numbers, to ensure Scotland keeps pace with the changing nature of crime and of society.

“The Scottish Government has committed to protect the police resource budget for each year of this parliament and provided an enhanced £61 million reform budget for 2017/18.”