McArthur: Almost 1000 fewer officers available today than when Police Scotland was formed

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP has today said that the Scottish Government need to be wary of workforce pressures that are hitting the police as new figures confirmed that there remain around 1,000 fewer officers today than when Police Scotland was formed.

Figures out today reveal there were 16,553 full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers in Scotland on 31 March 2025, compared to the first quarter in 2013 when Police Scotland was formed (17,496).

The Scottish Police Federation has previously stated that the service has been “asset stripped and basically used as a cash cow”.

Liam McArthur said:

"The job of a police officer is constantly changing. Officers attend complex mental health cases and face soaring cybercrime online alongside the more traditional expectation of visible community policing.

"They're having to do all of that with almost a thousand fewer officers than they had around a decade ago. It's creating real pressure cooker conditions.

"As a result, staff are quitting the service or going off long term sick, leaving those who remain feeling unsupported and stretched dangerously thin.

“It is no wonder that policing bodies have warned of a public safety crisis. The Scottish Government must heed these warnings and meet the needs of officers and staff through proper resourcing.”