Plan to axe officers is scrapped over Brexit

Controversial plans to axe 300 officers have been scrapped by Police Scotland amid fears about the ‘catastrophic’ impact of Brexit.

Instead, the force is ramping up recruitment to prepare for the possible repercussions of EU withdrawal.

Rank-and-file officers have warned that more manpower will be needed to police borders and ports – and to cope with the risk of ‘civil disobedience’.

They also said the SNP’s draft Budget would leave the force under-funded, with an ‘overstretched workforce relying on Heath Robinson technology’.

Submissions from top brass and the Scottish Police Federation are to be discussed by MSPs at the justice subcommittee on policing on Thursday.

Committee convener, Greens MSP John Finnie, said: ‘Rankand-file

‘Not getting the money it needs’

and senior officers alike are telling us the police service is not being given the money it needs. The committee will be pressing the Justice Secretary [Humza Yousaf] on the rationale behind the Budget.’

Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) have said the proposed Budget will only ‘partially fund’ many plans, particularly the IT strategy.

The force said that ‘the Chief Constable has decided to bring forward the recruitment of 120 officers in this financial year to ensure capacity and resilience is in place to prepare against a range of contingencies associated with Brexit’.

The Scottish Government said the Budget assumptions are ‘subject to review in light of Brexit-related planning being undertaken by Police Scotland and the SPA’.