McArthur responds to Scottish Police Federation warnings of "public safety crisis"

Responding to reports from the Scottish Police Federation that new police recruitment is being delayed until April 2024, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said:

"Delaying the recruitment of new officers because there aren’t enough existing officers to carry out training shows the vicious cycle into which Police Scotland has been plunged by repeated budget crises.

"SNP Government neglect has already resulted in a loss of skills and experience, while leaving the service stretched dangerously thin. This latest move looks likely to store up even more problems in the future.

“The Scottish Police Federation are warning of a 'public safety crisis' as a result of this announcement. We know many officers feel unsupported and overwhelmed. SNP Ministers must finally heed the concerns of officers before it is too late."