Yousaf ‘astounded’ at Tory MSP’S attack over cuts to policing
THE Justice Secretary has accused a Tory MSP of having a “brass neck” after he attacked the Scottish Government over cuts to policing.
Asking a question about the mental health support given to police officers in Scotland, Jeremy Balfour said Police Scotland staff are working “against a background” of cuts, drawing jeers from the SNP members in the Holyrood chamber.
In November, an independent study by Canadian academics – commissioned by the Scottish Police Federation – suggested more than one-third of police officers admitted working while “mentally unwell” in the past six months, while one in 10 said they use alcohol or prescription drugs to cope.
The research is expected to be published in full before the new year.
Mr Balfour asked if Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf would “guarantee” support for officers.
Mr Yousaf responded: “I’m astounded by the brass neck of Jeremy Balfour for talking about a ‘background of cuts’ in policing.
“His party over the decade has cut 20,000 officers.
“Even your promise of increasing officers by 20,000, that is just simply getting it up to the standard it was before you made those cuts.
“If the Conservatives followed Scotland’s lead you would have to increase your officers by 27,000.
“I am not going to take a lecture on a ‘background of cuts’ when in the last decade you’ve cut this Government’s budget.”
During the General Election campaign, the Conservatives have pledged to employ another 20,000 police officers across England and Wales.
Mr Yousaf also said he is “satisfied” that Police Scotland takes the issue of mental health seriously.
He said: “I look forward to receiving the research from the
Scottish Police Federation and once I have that research I am happy to work with the Chief Constable and Police Scotland.
“We have an absolutely shared endeavour, whether it’s the
Scottish Police Authority, the
Police Federation or Police
Scotland itself, or indeed the Government, to make sure that our officers feel supported in what is a difficult job.
“We will continue to do that by investing in our police service by ensuring that revenue is protected and the capital budget – as it has been over the years – will be increased.”