Police Scotland cuts: 'People may die', warns federation, as officer numbers to be axed

Around 600 officers may leave Police Scotland due to budget cuts

​The head of the organisation representing rank-and-file police officers in Scotland has warned people could die due to a lack of officer numbers, as Scottish ministers were accused of “arrogantly” ignoring warnings.

Scottish Police Federation (SPF) general secretary David Kennedy said there could be a repeat of the M9 incident involving Lamara Bell and John Yuill, who died having lain in their crashed car for three days despite police being called.

And Mr Kennedy told 1919 Magazine, which the organisation funds, that probationers were working on the beat alongside other novices rather than being partnered with experienced officers, amid an unprecedented squeeze on resources.

Police Scotland has seen its funding cut dramatically over the past ten years. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Mr Yuill was pronounced dead at the scene, and Ms Bell died later at hospital after the incident in July 2015.

A fatal accident inquiry into the incident opened last month.

When Police Scotland was formed in 2013, 17,496 officers were employed. Figures have show that number dropped to 16,600 as of the end of June this year, with plans to cut 600 more officers by April to meet budget constraints.

Mr Kennedy said: “The reality is we have a lack of officers. All we can do is keep highlighting it and saying to the public that any notion that policing will remain the same and remain as safe as it has been is just not going tohappen.

“People need to realise that, and government needs to realise that. We might see more M9 cases appearing where people actually die, because that's the harsh reality if there are not enough police officers to get to calls that they are meant to attend. People may die.”

Mr Kennedy went on to say the SPF had received reports of probationer officers going on the beat with other probationers, where they would usually be accompanied by someone of more experience.

"It's happening all over the country,” he said. “In the more urban areas, it's probably happening more than often.

"It has a massive impact on cops because they just want to do their job and they will try their utmost to do their job, but they're at the point now where they're so overstretched they can't do their job.

"We've tried to tell officers they need to try and do the job that they have to do, but what happens when you try to take on too much, that's when mistakes get made.

“It’s bleak. If the Scottish Government properly funded the police service then it wouldn't be bleak, but they are choosing not to.”

A project initiated in the face of widespread budget cuts has already meant some minor crimes are no longer investigated in the north east of Scotland.

Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Russell Findlay said: “SNP ministers have arrogantly ignored repeated and explicit public statements from Police Scotland's most senior figures about the devastating impact of their decisions.

“But Humza Yousaf surely cannot ignore this stark life-or-death warning from rank-and-file officers who are paying the price of severe and sustained SNP cuts.

“The First Minister needs to start listening and ensure that the national force is given the required resources to keep people safe. He should start by agreeing to the Scottish Conservative commitment to hire 1,000 extra officers.”

Scottish Labour’s Katy Clark said: “Police have seen their budgets slashed, their staff numbers plummet, and even the proposed closure of local police stations. The SNP need to recognise we face a crisis in policing if they proceed with their plan and must provide the resources to support the police in the work we need them to do.”

Deputy Chief Constable Designate Fiona Taylor said in an update last month: “As we have consistently highlighted over a period of months, hard choices are being taken to deliver effective policing within the funding available and action is being taken to achieve savings, co-ordinated through the Policing Our Communities programme.

She added: “We have paused all police support staff recruitment, except for some business-critical areas such as our contact centres and custody suites. We are also reviewing our senior officer command structures and support services.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “Police officers perform an essential role keeping Scotland's communities safe which is why the Scottish Government is investing £1.45 billion in policing in 2023/24, despite difficult financial circumstances caused by UK Government austerity.

“There are over 350 more officers than in 2007 and around 1,480 new recruits have joined Police Scotland in the last 18 months.”