Yousaf backs police budget despite fears of a ‘deficit’

PROBLEMS: Serious funding concerns dismissed by Scottish justice secretary

Scotland’s justice secretary has dismissed claims police stations are “falling apart” amid serious concerns over funding for the force.

The SNP’s Humza Yousaf insisted Police Scotland gets a fair deal after Chief Constable Iain Livingstone last week hit out at “derisory” funding levels from the government.

The row came after footage emerged of Pitlochry police station – among others – with water pouring through the windows due to structural problems.

Labour James Kelly raised concerns over the video at Holyrood and pointed to claims by the Scottish Police Federation that one-quarter of police stations are in “poor condition”.

The MSP added: “It is completely unacceptable that some of our police stations are falling apart.

“What action are we taking in the budget to ensure that we have a police estate that is fit for purpose?”

But Mr Yousaf hit back, saying: “I think that hyperbole by describing police stations as falling apart is unhelpful.

“I don’t doubt that the Scottish Police Federation have a job to do, particularly pre-budget to try to do what they can in order to ensure there’s the maximum amount of resource coming to the police – they wouldn’t be doing their job if they didn’t do that.”

Calls for increased resources came as Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr forecast a busy year for Police Scotland.

A rise in protests, Euro 2020 games during the summer, the impact of Brexit and the hosting of COP26 in Glasgow are all expected to place an increased demand on the service.

Mr Yousaf said policing services had been maintained and improved by the Scottish Government.

He also insisted the UK Government should return £125 million in VAT to Police Scotland, which it had paid before the policy was overturned in 2017.

“The annual budget for policing has increased by more than £80m since 2016-17, bringing the budget to more than £1.2 billion in 2019-2020,” he said.

“This includes a £12m increase in capital funding which was focused on the introduction of mobile devices to frontline officers.

“Despite constraints on Scotland’s public services through a decade of UK austerity, the Scottish Government has worked with Police Scotland and the Police Authority to maintain and improve policing services, including providing significantly more officers than at any other time before 2007. Current numbers stand at 17,256 – 1,022 more than we inherited in March.

“Discussions around Scotland’s budget for 2020-21 continue – we will, however, continue to ensure Scotland’s police service is supported to keep people in communities safe.”

Humza Yousaf, top, and buckets placed to catch water leaking through windows at the police station in Pitlochry.