The “staggering” number of absences recorded among “overwhelmed” Police Scotland officers can be revealed by the Scottish Conservatives today.
Data obtained via a Freedom of Information request from the party shows that since 2020, over one million working days have been lost within the force due to staff absences – with almost a quarter of them due to officers suffering from psychological disorders.
Shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr says the “eye-watering” figures fully expose the SNP’s failures to support Scotland’s police, with officer numbers at their lowest since the SNP came to power in 2007.
The FOI response also highlights that between July last year and June this year nearly one in six officers available to the force were unable to be deployed at some point.
Liam Kerr added that SNP ministers are “completely disconnected” from the daily reality facing Scotland’s police force and urged them to show some “common sense” to ensure that officers always feel valued and supported at work.
Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr MSP said: “The rate of absences within Police Scotland in recent years is staggering.
“Dedicated officers are being forced to do their job with one hand tied behind their back due to savage and sustained SNP cuts.
“It’s very telling that nearly a quarter of these absences are due to psychological issues, given officer numbers are at their lowest since the SNP came to power in 2007.
“There’s a vicious circle of overwhelmed officers going off sick, which in turn increases the stress on their remaining colleagues, who are more likely to fall ill too.
“SNP ministers are completely disconnected from the pressures facing police officers on a daily basis and have repeatedly neglected their needs.
“In contrast, the Scottish Conservatives would show some common sense by putting 1,000 extra officers on our streets. This would make our streets safer as well as ensuring that officers feel valued at their work.”
Notes to editors
The number of Police Officers in Scotland has fallen to their lowest level during the SNP’s 17 years of leadership. As of 30 June 2024, there were 16,207 full-time equivalent police officers in Scotland. The previous low was in Q1 of 2008 where the number stood at 16,222 but the latest statistics fall below that meaning that the latest data shows the lowest number of officers recorded since at least 2007. (Police officer quarterly strength statistics: 30 June 2024, 6 August 2024, Link).
The number of police officers fell by nearly 400 between Q2 of 2023 and Q2 of 2024. In Q2 of 2023 there were 16,600 officers in Scotland but by Q2 of 2024 there were 16,207 officers, a decline of nearly 400. (Police officer quarterly strength statistics: 30 June 2024, 6 August 2024, Link).
There was an average of 16,401 officers between June 2023 and June 2024. In Q3 2023 there were 16,613, in Q4 16,363 and in Q1 2024 there were 16,356 officers whilst in Q2 2024 there were 16,207 officers. This means that, on average, there were approximately 16,401 officers in Police Scotland across the year. (Police officer quarterly strength statistics: 30 June 2024, 6 August 2024, Link).
More than one million workings days have been lost to Police Scotland due to absence. Since 2020 Police Scotland have recorded 1,020,930 working days lost for all absence reasons. Meanwhile, over the same time period they recorded 239,507 working days lost due to absences that related to officers suffering from psychological disorders. (FOI Response available on request – Police Scotland, 25 September 2024, ).
Around 17% of officers were not deployable in one year. Between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024 Police Scotland recorded 2,771 officers who were not deployable for a period during this year. On average the force had about 16,401 officers during this period which means that around 17% of officers were not deployable for a period during the last year. (FOI Response available on request – Police Scotland, 25 September 2024,).