LibDem Justice spokesman Liam McArthur and police in action in West Dunbartonshire.
By Bill Heaney
Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur has today urged the SNP to do far more to support police officers and staff.
He revealed that the number of working police officer and staff days lost to mental health absences has risen sharply in recent years.
A Scottish Liberal Democrat Freedom of Information request to Police Scotland found that:
- Since 2019, 304,424 police officer days and 136,206 police staff days have been lost due to mental health absences.
- Between 2021/22 and 2023/2024, there was a 22% increase in the number of working days lost to mental health among officers.
- Between 2021/22 and 2023/2024, there was a 16% increase in the number of working days lost to mental health among police staff.
- In 2024/25 so far (from 1st April to 30th September), there have been 38,669 days lost to mental health.
As at the end of September 2024, police officer numbers have fallen by more than 1,000 compared to when Police Scotland was formed in 2013.
Mr McArthur said: “This is a sad reflection of the many police officers and staff who feel overwhelmed and stretched dangerously thin.
“Ever since the SNP’s centralisation of Scotland’s police service, officer numbers have been on a downward trend. Those numbers are now at some of their lowest levels ever. If ministers continue deprioritizing provision for things like mental health, we could see many more officers and staff heading for the door.
“Keeping communities safe starts by supporting those at the heart of Scottish policing.
“That’s why Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see regular staff surveys and a mental health first aider installed in every police workplace. We also need to see concerted action to root out discriminatory practices, making sure every officer and every member of staff feels respected and valued.”