Over one million working days have been lost within Police Scotland since 2020 due to staff absences, new figures reveal.
Data obtained via a Freedom of Information request from the Scottish Conservatives shows 1,020,930 Police Scotland working days have been lost due to ill health or injury between 2020 and June this year.
A total of 239,507 - almost a quarter- of the sick days were down to officers suffering from psychological disorders.
Between July last year and June this year, nearly one in six officers available to the force were unable to be deployed at some point.
The Scottish Conservatives justice spokesperson Liam Kerr says these “eye-watering” figures demonstrate the SNP’s failures to support Scotland’s police.
The North East MSP said: “The rate of absences within Police Scotland in recent years is staggering. Dedicated officers are being forced to do their job with one hand tied behind their back due to savage and sustained SNP cuts.
“There’s a vicious circle of overwhelmed officers going off sick, which in turn increases the stress on their remaining colleagues, who are more likely to fall ill too.
“SNP ministers are completely disconnected from the pressures facing police officers on a daily basis and have repeatedly neglected their needs.”
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The news comes as the number of Police Officers in Scotland has fallen to their lowest level since the SNP took power in 2007.
Earlier this year, total police numbers in Scotland dropped to 16,207 , however, last week, Chief Constable Jo Farrell welcomed 250 new recruits.
The Scottish Government said despite working under "deeply challenge financial circumstances due to the UK Government settlement", they are providing £1.55 billion of police funding this year, which will allow Police Scotland to take on more recruits this year than any time since 2013.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “These figures cover a period of more than four years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, across a workforce of more than 16,000 officers. We welcome the Chief Constable’s commitment to workforce wellbeing and that police officers and staff can access a range of services including access to a new 24/7 employee assistance programme and have direct access to occupational health services.
"Police Scotland indicated that there were around 16,400 officers at the beginning of August, with over 690 new officers recruited since March.”
Police Scotland says they are taking measures to improve staff well-being and are hoping to increase officer numbers before the end of this year.
Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: "The Chief Constable has prioritised the health and wellbeing of our officers and staff, whose feedback was integral in agreeing a £17 million investment in enhanced welfare provisions.
“These include a new 24/7 employee assistance programme, direct access to occupational health services to support officers and staff on their journey back to health and work, and a greater focus on mental health.
“Our officer numbers on 1 October were 16,425 and we anticipate reaching 16,600 in November.”
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