Police Scotland overtime bill soars to £31.5 million

Glasgow Times

4 days ago

The data highlights the growing financial cost of policing, with officer numbers falling and demand for the service increasing.
Of the total spend, £28.15 million went towards overtime payments for officers, while a further £3.4 million was paid to police staff, an increase of 10% compared to the previous year.
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The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) has warned that the spiralling bill reflects a "chronic shortage of police officers".
David Kennedy, general secretary of the SPF, said: 'As demand on policing continues to increase, whether through major events, public safety operations, or everyday calls for service, there simply are not enough officers to meet the workload within normal working hours.
'The reality is that overtime is no longer a contingency, it has become a necessity to maintain even the most basic levels of public safety.
"This is unsustainable, both financially and in terms of officer wellbeing.
'Officers are regularly being asked to sacrifice their rest days, family time, and personal health to plug gaps caused by years of underinvestment in policing.
'We cannot continue to rely on a shrinking workforce to deliver a growing remit.
'The rising cost of overtime is not a budget management issue; it is a symptom of a wider crisis in police numbers that must be addressed urgently through meaningful investment in recruitment, retention, and support for serving officers.'
The figures, published by 1919 and obtained via a freedom of information request, reveal fluctuating overtime costs over recent years.
In 2022/23, officer overtime peaked at £42.7 million, a figure attributed in part to the extensive policing operation following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The following year, overtime spending dropped to £25.3 million, before rising again in 2024/25.
Over the past three years, overtime payments for police staff have totalled £11.24 million, with spending levels remaining relatively stable.
Police Scotland has described policing as 'unpredictable' and noted that overtime is a 'flexible mechanism' used to meet operational requirements.
However, there are concerns that costs could climb even higher this year due to major events, including Donald Trump's recent visit to Scotland and the highly anticipated Oasis reunion concerts at Murrayfield Stadium, both of which require extensive police resources.
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Opposition parties have sharply criticised the situation. Pauline McNeill, Scottish Labour's justice spokesperson, told 1919: 'These eyewatering figures lay bare the immense pressure [[Police Scotland]] is under.
'Police officer numbers have collapsed over recent years, and big events have piled pressure onto remaining officers.
'There is no evidence that the Scottish Government is taking any serious steps to address this; therefore, this is likely to continue.
'Increasing reliance on overtime is costing Police Scotland thousands of pounds a day and exhausting police officers.
'Police officers cannot keep being forced to go above and beyond to paper over the cracks of SNP failure – the [[SNP]] must work with [[[[Police Scotland]]]] to ensure it has the officers it needs to keep our communities safe.'
Liam McArthur, justice spokesperson for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, also raised concerns: 'SNP ministers pushed through the creation of a single national force with the promise of significant cost savings which could be invested elsewhere in the service.
'Instead, we have seen falling officer numbers, police counters closing and officers running ragged.
'The cases that officers are being called to attend are increasingly complex and time-consuming.
'One solution we have proposed is to provide mental health workers to work alongside the police and help people in need.
'Officers should not be asked to work beyond their limits day after day.
'After so many years of worsening conditions, it will be hard work for the Justice Secretary to win back trust and convince officers she is in their corner.'
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A Scottish Government spokesperson responded by pointing to increased funding for policing: 'We are investing a record £1.64 billion for policing this year, and our continued investment enabled [[Police Scotland]] to take on more recruits in the last financial year than at any time since 2013, with further intakes planned throughout 2025.
'Scotland continues to have more police officers per capita than England and Wales, and recorded crime has fallen by more than half since 1991.'
Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: 'The nature of policing is unpredictable, and overtime is a flexible mechanism which can help to ensure we maintain an effective service for all our communities.
"Policing is relentless and right across the country, officers and staff are working incredibly hard to keep people safe and the organisation is deeply grateful for all their hard work.'