“Personal” the main reason police officers quit with less than two years’ service
By Lucy Ashton
Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader and former police officer Wendy Chamberlain MP., right, has today called on the Scottish Government to “act now” to retain recruits, following new information that 65% of police officers who left with less than two years’ service did so for “personal reasons”.
A freedom of information request asked Police Scotland to provide a breakdown of the reasons for the departure of officers with less than two years’ service since 2017/2018.
Out of a total of 243 officers who had left with less than two years’ service, 158 of them left for personal reasons (65%). It also revealed that 62 officers (25.5%) left because they wanted to find other employment, despite having less than two years’ service.
Previously, the party revealed that between April 2017 and June 2022, 438 officers left the police with less than three years’ service.
Ms Chamberlain commented: “This new information should make the Scottish Government sit up and pay attention. With so many officers choosing to leave the service of their own accord, there can be no doubt that continued government cuts are taking a heavy toll on the welfare of recruits.
“A career in the police involves navigating complex pressures and high-level demands. But too many officers already feel like they don’t have the resources to do the job and that they are being left to pick up the pieces of Scotland’s mental health crisis.
“Now the frontline are warning that the SNP/Green Government’s latest plans for spending cuts could mean the loss of 4,500 officers and staff.
“If the government fails to take action soon, we will face the hollowing out of invaluable expertise and skill.”