Police officer numbers declined in past year

The number of police officers in Scotland has dropped over the past year, according to new figures.

Scottish Government statistics show there were the equivalent of 17,256 full-time police officers on March 31, a decrease of 60 from the same date in 2016.

The new figures show police numbers are still up by 1,022 since 2007 when the SNP pledged to increase the total number of officers by 1,000.

The target was an SNP commitment from 2007 until last year's Holyrood elections, when it was dropped.

Police Scotland has already set out plans to slow recruitment between 2018 and 2020 as part of its 10-year policing plan.

Officer numbers are to be cut by 400 as the force battles to address a funding gap of almost £200 million by 2020/21.

Scottish Labour's justice spokeswoman Claire Baker MSP said: "Following the failure of the SNP to fully fund its promise of 1,000 extra officers, numbers are down and many are still having to back-fill roles rather than being out on the beat.

"The SNP has also overseen a dramatic reduction in the number of vital support staff, leading to a police force with very little flexibility to react to the changing nature of crime in Scotland.

"We need a balanced work force with the support and resources it deserves, but instead we have an organisation desperately trying to balance the books.

"With a growing budget black hole at the heart of Police Scotland and a crisis of leadership at the top of the SPA, these difficulties sit at the door of the SNP."