28-04-2025
One in ten Scottish cops took sick leave last year with mental health problems
Fears have been raised over the demands of the job
'CONCERNING' One in ten Scottish cops took sick leave last year with mental health problems
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AROUND one in ten Scots cops took sick leave last year with psychological disorders including alcohol and depression problems, new figures reveal.
Stats released under FOI laws show 1,596 of 1,987 officers who took sick leave did so because of issues relating to their mental health, with three officers having committed suicide while off duty.
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Scottish Police Federation chair David Threadgold said the figures are 'concerning'.
Credit: Alan MacGregor Ewing
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Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said that Police Scotland is looking to enhance the support it offers.
Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
As of December last year, there were 16,508 full-time equivalent police officers working in Scotland, with the number rising to 16,631 in March 2025.
Scottish Police Federation chair David Threadgold has called for a more proactive approach to be taken to help officers struggling with the demands of the job.
He told the Scottish Sun: 'The figures are extremely concerning, but unfortunately they're not a surprise to me.
'The challenge we face in the organisation is about being proactive in dealing with the stresses and strains of being in the police.
'We know that cops are going to experience trauma. I think the statistics are the average person will see one or two traumatic events, cops will see 300 or 400 over their service.'
It comes just weeks after a harrowing film, Relentless, was released by the SPF to give the public an insight into the gruelling challenges faced by cops here.
The four-minute flick draws on the real-life experiences of frontline officers, including Craig Purdon who serves in the east end of Glasgow — and who admitted it is 'hard to switch off' after shifts.
Scottish Tory Shadow Justice Secretary Liam Kerr said: 'The SNP must commit to investing in proactive mental health support for our police before things get even worse.'
Scottish Labour's justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill added: 'The SNP must ensure any officer struggling with the stress of the job is able to access the right support.'
Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said Police Scotland was working to enhance its health offering to officers with 'our Employee Assistance and Your Wellbeing Matters programmes'.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Staff and officers can access a range of services to support physical and mental wellbeing."
