By Lucy Ashton
The number of police officers in Scotland has fallen in every quarter since Keith Brown was appointed SNP justice secretary.
The officer headcount is currently at its lowest level since 2008 – and the decline in staffing levels has been steady and continual over the last 18 months.
When Keith Brown took over up the post in May 2021 there were 17,289 officers. However, that tally has dropped in each subsequent quarter and, as of September 2022, it stood at just 16,570 – a drop of more than 700.
Tory spokesman Jamie Greene (left) is highly critical of Justice Secretary Keith Brown.
The plummeting numbers have coincided with the justice secretary welcoming a recent recommendation which proposed dropping the 17,234 officer target.
Shadow justice secretary Jamie Greene insisted public safety was being put at risk by the fall, and he called on the SNP to reverse “dangerous” cuts to the justice budget.
Jamie Greene MSP said: “These figures are truly appalling and highlight once again how low a priority justice is for the SNP. The number of police officers is worryingly low – and only heading in one direction.
“Keith Brown ought to be ashamed that he has presided over these remorseless falls, but by giving his public backing to ditching minimum officer numbers it seems he has given up fighting for a properly-resourced Police Scotland.
“It’s little wonder that violent crime is rising when police officers across Scotland are being asked to fight crime with one hand tied behind their back by the SNP government.
“Our police work tirelessly day and night to keep the public safe, yet they are being let down by the justice secretary.
“The SNP’s dangerous justice cuts are putting public safety at risk and must be reversed.”
