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Police Scotland's overtime bill doubles to £28million in five years
And the number of cops is down
BIG BILL Police Scotland's overtime bill doubles to £28million in five years
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POLICE Scotland's overtime bill has doubled to £28million in five years — amid fears cops are being left 'exhausted'.
Rank-and-file chiefs also warned officers are unable to perform duties 'safely'.
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Police Scotland officers at an Anti-racism, pro-refugee demonstration in Glasgow ..
They blasted force cuts as figures showed extra-hours spending rose from £14million in 2020-21 — as the number of full-time officers fell from 17,431 to 16,553.
David Kennedy, of the Scottish Police Federation, said: 'It's dead simple - less police officers mean more overtime.
"With any events, the force can't cope without paying overtime. The attitude of saying 'we're going with 12-hour shifts' is not acceptable.
'We don't have enough officers to police safely. They are being called out on rest days. It's having a detrimental effect on the well-being of officers who are already exhausted.'
Figures show the overtime spend rose to almost £37million in 2021-22, and then peaked at nearly £43million in 2022-23.
It decreased to £25million last year, but is now increasing again.
Bills were inflated by policing of the 2021 COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, mourning of the Queen's death in 2022 and the pandemic.
Tory shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said: 'These eye- watering figures are a result of the SNP's savage cuts.'
Scottish Lib Dem justice spokesperson Liam McArthur said: 'It is not sustainable to keep asking those keeping us safe day-in day-out to work beyond their limits. Past staff surveys have shown they feel the service and its resources are stretched."
Police Scotland body worn cameras roll out across the country
Scottish Labour Justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill added: 'Soaring levels of overtime are exhausting police officers and draining badly-needed funding.
'The SNP must work with Police Scotland to ensure it has the officers it needs to keep our communities safe.'
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Overtime is a flexible mechanism which can help to maintain effective policing for all our communities.
"It is important our people are rewarded for the work they do in line with their terms and conditions."
A Scottish Government spokesperson added: "Scotland's police officers provide a vital service, every day, to ensure we continue to live in safe and protected communities.
