Scottish police numbers fall to lowest level in nine years The number of police officers in Scotland has fallen to the lowest level in nine years after ministers scrapped their […]

The number of police officers in Scotland has fallen to the lowest level in nine years after ministers scrapped their long-standing commitment on the issue.

Police Scotland had the equivalent of 17,170 full time officers in the first three months of this year, a decline of 86 on the total recorded at the end of 2017, Scottish Government figures show.

“The reality is that there are fewer front line officers in our communities and local stations have closed across the country” The i politics newsletter cut through the noise Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription. Daniel Johnson MSP

The last time the number of police officers was lower was in the first three months of 2009, when the total stood at 17,048.

The overall strength of Scotland’s police increased significantly after the SNP came into power in 2007, when the party committed to putting 1,000 extra officers on the streets.

However, it dropped this commitment ahead of the Holyrood election in 2016, arguing that the “nature of crime” was changing and that the target was no longer relevant.

The SNP manifesto said Police Scotland needed more flexibility to ensure that it had more civilian specialists, such as experts in cyber-crime and counter-fraud, as well as qualified officers.

Despite the change, the party’s pledge of maintaining 1,000 extra officers from the total it inherited in 2007 has remained intact until now.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson insisted that front line policing was being maintained despite the decline, with staff being freed up from back office roles.

Police numbers in England and Wales have fallen by about 20,000 since 2010, and are currently at their lowest level in at least 20 years.

Backfilling roles

But Holyrood’s opposition parties seized on the figures, claiming that ministers had “lauded” the commitment for years while ignoring lay-offs among skilled civilian staff.

“SNP ministers’ focus on spin over substance is finally coming undone: we all know that ‘extra’ officers were simply backfilling for a loss in back room police staff,” said Scottish Labour’s justice spokesman Daniel Johnson.

“The reality is that there are fewer front line officers in our communities and local stations have closed across the country.

“Public confidence in the force is at rock bottom following scandal after scandal, and falling officer numbers will only make matters worse.”

His Liberal Democrat counterpart Liam McArthur said the target had been “trumpeted for a decade” but had “masked the real pressures within the national force”.

He added: “Police officers were routinely backfilling, covering jobs they weren’t trained to do in settings such as 999 control rooms, a practice we know caused real harm.”

Mr Matheson said it was important that Police Scotland had the right “workforce mix”, with civilian specialists and support staff as well as front line officers needed to tackle modern crime.

“While staffing is a matter for the Chief Constable, I am acutely aware that the public will want to be assured that our hard working police officers are able to offer the best possible service to keep our communities safe,” he added.

“HMICS and the Scottish Police Authority must continue to oversee the implementation of the strategy to ensure the force can continue to provide an excellent service across Scotland.”