Tories claim police underfunding is now ‘putting public at risk’
NICOLA Sturgeon has been accused of endangering the public by underfunding the police.
Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw said the First Minister would be “putting the public at risk” if she did not increase Police Scotland’s budget in 2020/21.
Ms Sturgeon said Mr Carlaw had an “absolute cheek” given the UK Tory government had cut £1.5bn from Holyrood’s budget since 2010.
The row at First Minister’s Questions came after a series of police bodies warned the draft budget for the coming year was too low for Police Scotland’s needs.
The Scottish Police Authority, Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, and Scottish Police Federation said the capital budget, for vehicles, buildings and equipment, was especially short.
Mr Carlaw said the budget was “wholly inadequate” and asked Ms Sturgeon what advice she had for Police Scotland on plugging the £49m black hole in its finances.
“Should it cut officer numbers, continue to let the ceilings fall down in police stations and much else besides, or fail to issue essential equipment?” he asked.
Ms Sturgeon said the SNP had kept officer numbers around 1000 up on the level inherited in 2007, while the Tories had cut 20,000 officers south of the border.
“Perhaps he should reflect on that,” she said.
Mr Carlaw said SNP ministers would get £96m from extra UK Government police spending, and accused the FM of “shortchanging Scotland’s police officers”.
She replied: “The draft budget increases Police Scotland’s budget by £42m. In 2016/17, Police Scotland’s capital budget was £20m. In the draft budget.. it is £40m
“In other words, it has doubled in the space of a couple of years.”
Mr Carlaw quoted the Scottish Police Federation warning its members were under mental and physical strain and often in working in unsatisfactory conditions.
Mr Carlaw said: “The choice is clear - the First Minister must increase police funding or she will be putting the public at risk.”
Ms Sturgeon said Tory cuts to the police in England were “the reality that every police officer across the UK is all too aware of.”.
Later, Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf told MSPS Police Scotland would “have to prioritise” its capital spending, despite a real terms rise.
However he said he had faith that Chief Constable Iain Livingstone would do that.