A strong police workforce

There were 17,242 full time equivalent (FTE) police officers in the first quarter of 2016/17 according to figures released today.

Minister for Community Safety Annabelle Ewing said:

“This Government is dedicated to protecting local communities through effective policing and, with recorded crime at a 41 year low, Scotland is as safe as it has been for over a generation.

“This reduction in crime levels is supported by continued high numbers of police in Scotland’s communities, and I am very pleased to note that numbers remain well in excess of those in 2007.

“Scotland’s police officers and staff work incredibly hard to serve our communities, tackling violence and crime. We will continue to work with Police Scotland to support them by considering the implications of changing demands on Scottish policing and ensuring the right mix of officers and specialist staff to provide protection for Scotland’s communities.

“The Scottish Government is also committed to protecting the police revenue budget in real terms for the entirety of this Parliament, delivering an additional £100 million of investment over the next five years, in addition to £55 million of reform funding in 2016-17.

“We are currently consulting on new Strategic Policing Priorities covering the themes of localism, prevention, response, collaborative working, accountability and adaptability to help us build on the progress of recent years. I would urge all interested parties to consider a response.”