MSP demands action over drop in police numbers
Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has urged the Scottish Government to back Scottish Conservative proposals for a Local Policing Act after latest Police Scotland figures revealed that Argyll’s police division has lost 28 officers over the last eight years.
Meanwhile its law enforcers have been bolstering the stretched ‘centralised’ force at COP26 in Glasgow, where around 10,000 officers were needed each day of the twoweek conference.
Between 2013 and 2021, the numbers of police officers have been reduced from 570 to 542 in the Argyll and West Dunbartonshire division, according to the most recent Police Officer Quarterly Strength fact sheet on September 30.
Overall, Scotland currently has 17,232 police officers, around 100 fewer than in 2013 when the single force of Police Scotland was created. The number of police officers in Scotland could be cut further in 2021, Police Scotland’s Chief Constable Iain Livingstone told MSPs earlier this year. Mr Livingstone said reducing numbers this year would be ‘imprudent’ given the ‘unprecedented demand’ facing the force.
The force also has a draft plan to work out how many officers it will need in the future. Its much delayed workforce plan, due to be published later this year, is designed to ensure the force’s resources match modern law enforcement requirements.
Donald Cameron said: ‘Since the SNP centralised the police force we have seen a decline in the number of officers on the beat here.
‘Since 2013, according to Police Scotland’s own figures, we have lost 28 officers from our local divisional area and this at a time when local people are becoming ever more concerned about levels of crime.
‘Our proposal for a Local
Policing Act will put more bobbies on the beat, involve local people in policing decisions and ensure our hardworking officers always have the resources they need, including decent modern police stations which, as we know, remains a significant problem in Argyll.
‘SNP policies are all too often focused on the Central Belt and ignore the requirements of more rural areas such as Argyll and Bute.
‘That needs to change and a Local Policing Act would help drive a greater focus on combating crime in regions like the one I represent.’
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: ‘The recruitment and deployment of police officers is a matter for the Chief Constable and
Scotland’s national police service allows local divisions across the country to access national and regional resources depending on demand.
‘Officer numbers have been maintained and are favourable relative to elsewhere in the UK, with around 32 officers per 10,000 population in Scotland compared to around 23 in England and Wales. Officers received a £700 pay uplift in 2021/22 and a separate non-consolidated payment of £250. This contrasts with England and Wales where the majority of officers received no increase.
‘The Scottish Government has increased police funding year-on-year since 2016-17, investing more than £1.3 billion in 2021/22 and more than £10 billion since the creation of Police Scotland in 2013.
‘Recorded crime remains at one of the lowest levels since 1974 and is down 41 per cent since 2006-07 and homicide levels are at their lowest level since 1976.’