Police Figures Condemned

Police officer numbers in Scotland have marginally increased, according to figures.

In the three months to March there were just under 17,300 full time equivalent officers - a yearly rise of 51.

In 2007, the Scottish Government set a target of 1,000 more FTE officers, which it has managed, by 61.

The data is measured in the amount of hours worked, rather than physical staff numbers, and does not take into account civilian police workers.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said:

“Recorded crime is at a 40 year low, with violent crime down 10 per cent and crimes of handling an offensive weapon (including knives) reduced by 62 per cent since 2006-07.

“These strong statistics are backed by over 1,000 extra police officers that this Government has delivered compared to 2007, protecting the public and keeping communities safe.

'Political statistic'

The union UNISON is condeming "in the strongest possible terms" the releasing of the figures so close to the election.

Gerry Crawley, Scottish regional organiser said: "Mr Matheson fails to mention the fact they are making £1.1bn cuts to the police force in Scotland by 2020 and that 1300 police civilian staff have lost their jobs in recent months.  Meaning more and more police officers are being taken off the streets and are working in the back office covering for our members who have lost their jobs.

"Police staff do vital jobs to fight crime like finger print officers, intelligence analysts, forensics, scenes of crime officers, photographers, emergency control room staff, mechanics, custody officers, finance controllers and many others. These jobs are being cut.

"The 17,234 police officer target is a political statistic from 2007. It is not based on any strategic analysis of the skills we need to build a modern effective force to fight crime, Mr Crawley continued.

"The Scottish Government, Justice Secretary Michael Matheson, and the Scottish Police Authority should have issued a press release to say they are reversing their policy to direct all the  £ 1.1bn cuts at skilled police staff as it’s taking the Scottish police service back to the 1970s."