Humza Yousaf has been criticised for “secrecy” over police funding cuts that have been described as a “slash and burn” approach.
At First Minister’s Questions, the SNP leader refused to say which police stations would close, which crimes the police won’t investigate any longer, and how many officer positions would be cut.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said the First Minister was a “criminal’s dream”, as “he doesn’t want them stopped, he doesn’t want them caught, and he doesn’t want them jailed”.
This week, David Kennedy of the Scottish Police Federation warned: “We might see more M9 cases appearing where people actually die...that’s the harsh reality if there are not enough police officers.”
At a recent Scottish Police Authority meeting, Police Scotland officers described the cuts they are being forced to make as “slash and burn”.
The Deputy Chief Officer David Page said: “It used to be every pound is a prisoner, now it’s every penny.”
Police numbers have already fallen by more than 700 since the creation of Police Scotland.
This week it emerged that SNP budget cuts mean the police will have to close another 30 stations.
Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross said: “Humza Yousaf is forcing Police Scotland to close dozens of stations – but he won’t say where.
“Humza Yousaf is leaving the police with no option but to stop investigating every crime – but he won’t say which crimes.
“Humza Yousaf is making the police cut officer numbers to the lowest level on record – but he won’t say how low.
“For a First Minister that likes the sound of his own voice, he’s strangely silent when it really matters.
“Humza Yousaf is a criminal’s dream. He doesn’t want them stopped, he doesn’t want them caught, and he doesn’t want them jailed.
“The SNP leader is being sly, sleekit and secretive about the consequences of his police cuts.”