500 officers quit police in year

THE number of police officers in Scotland has fallen by almost 500 in the past year as ministers are warned of an exodus of senior staff from the force.

A ‘shocking drop’ in officer numbers has been revealed as the latest statistics show staffing is at the lowest level since 2008.

There were 16,805 full-time equivalent police officers at the end of March, a decrease of 479 (2.8 per cent). In the first three months of this year, Police Scotland lost the equivalent of 312 officers.

Scottish Police Authority documents suggested 122 officers were due to hit the point of retirement between January and March – a far higher number than usual.

The Scottish Police Federation believes it is due to new pension arrangements allowing officers to retire five years early without penalty. SPF chairman David Hamilton told the 1919 policing and justice magazine: ‘The warning flags have been there. We are now watching centuries of experience leave the organisation.’

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘This shocking drop in the number of officers exposes just how low a priority public safety is to the SNP. This neglect of our police service has undoubtedly made our streets less safe.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Police Scotland has recruited an intake of approximately 300 officers in April this year and intends to continue to recruit around 300 probationers each quarter throughout the remainder of 2022.’

A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘Retirement rates have created significant challenge.’