One in six cops 'on restricted duties' due to sickness or investigation, shock figures show
One out of every six of cops in Scotland are unable to carry out frontline police duties because they are not well enough or under investigation.
Shock new figures show that 2,253 officers are currently on reduced office based roles - known as restricted or modified duties - up eight percent on 2023 figures. A further 513 cops are on long term sick - having been off work for 28 days or more. The combined total of 2766 officers is almost 17 percent of the current Police Scotland strength of around 16,426 men and women.
The figures released by the national force under Freedom of Information come at a time of increasing workloads and rising numbers of assaults on officers.
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More than 6,000 cops were deployed to police US President Donald Trump 's visit to Scotland last month and the force is currently spending £85,000 a day on overtime to make up the shortfall in numbers on the street
Scottish Lib Dem Justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP warned:"Fewer officers puts communities at greater risk and leaves those who remain feeling unsupported and stretched dangerously thin. "The Scottish Government must heed these warnings and meet the needs of officers and staff through proper resourcing. "They also need to ensure that officers are getting their mental health and support needs met. More regular staff surveys could help to anticipate growing problems and make officers feel that they are being heard."
Officers can be put on restricted duties due to illness or injury - in many cases suffered in the line of duty. The numbers can also include women officers who are pregnant or returning from pregnancy. Others are moved off the street because they need to take medication at certain times. The figures also include officers who are the subject of disciplinary proceedings or under investigation following complaints about their conduct.
The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) say some of those on modified duties should be allowed to take early retirement on grounds of ill health but have been prevented from doing so due to the cost.
SPF General Secretary David Kennedy yesterday called for Police Scotland to recruit more police officers and revealed that their members are at breaking point. He added:"Morale is not great at the moment. "The pressure on police officers now is unbelievable. "We are just burst, there is no other way to describe it. "The police used to be a job for life and more and more people can't do it as a job for life because they are burnt out and saying enough is enough."
Last year Police Scotland numbers dropped to 16,207, the lowest since records began in 2007, but they have since risen to the current total. In June it was revealed police are being assaulted on an almost hourly basis, with 7159 attacks last year - 425 more than in 2023. Mr Kennedy added:"We are at a crucial point just now, we need more police officers in Scotland. "Over the last ten or 15 years we have had more and more put onto policing. "Because they are closing police offices, officers are having to travel further to get to work and people. "We are a long way off the numbers we need to be at and looking after communities in Scotland."
The areas with the most on restricted duties are Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Edinburgh.
One police source told the Daily Record: "The people on modified duties are still doing important work that needs done. "However, for various reasons, they cannot be deployed on the street dealing with 999 calls, where they are needed the most."
Police Scotland's Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: 'The health and welfare of our officers and staff remains one of Police Scotland's highest priorities and we have a range of mechanisms in place to support our employees who are absent from work for any reason. "Working in policing is a job like no other and our officers and staff find themselves in situations which can be stressful, traumatic and can have a lasting impact on them. "We continue to work to support police officers and staff in their journey back to full health'
A Scottish Government spokesperson added:"It is absolutely right that police officers and staff receive support for their physical and mental wellbeing and they can access a range of services, including a 24/7 employee assistance programme and occupational health services."We are investing a record £1.64 billion for policing this year, Scotland continues to have more police officers per capita than England and Wales and recorded crime has fallen by more than half since 1991.'
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