Police Scotland's overtime bill doubles to £28million in five years
And the number of cops is down
BIG BILL Police Scotland's overtime bill doubles to £28million in five years
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
POLICE Scotland's overtime bill has doubled to £28million in five years — amid fears cops are being left 'exhausted'.
Rank-and-file chiefs also warned officers are unable to perform duties 'safely'.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
1
Police Scotland officers at an Anti-racism, pro-refugee demonstration in Glasgow ..
They blasted force cuts as figures showed extra-hours spending rose from £14million in 2020-21 — as the number of full-time officers fell from 17,431 to 16,553.
David Kennedy, of the Scottish Police Federation, said: 'It's dead simple - less police officers mean more overtime.
"With any events, the force can't cope without paying overtime. The attitude of saying 'we're going with 12-hour shifts' is not acceptable.
'We don't have enough officers to police safely. They are being called out on rest days. It's having a detrimental effect on the well-being of officers who are already exhausted.'
Figures show the overtime spend rose to almost £37million in 2021-22, and then peaked at nearly £43million in 2022-23.
It decreased to £25million last year, but is now increasing again.
Bills were inflated by policing of the 2021 COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, mourning of the Queen's death in 2022 and the pandemic.
Tory shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said: 'These eye- watering figures are a result of the SNP's savage cuts.'
Scottish Lib Dem justice spokesperson Liam McArthur said: 'It is not sustainable to keep asking those keeping us safe day-in day-out to work beyond their limits. Past staff surveys have shown they feel the service and its resources are stretched."
Police Scotland body worn cameras roll out across the country
Scottish Labour Justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill added: 'Soaring levels of overtime are exhausting police officers and draining badly-needed funding.
'The SNP must work with Police Scotland to ensure it has the officers it needs to keep our communities safe.'
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Overtime is a flexible mechanism which can help to maintain effective policing for all our communities.
"It is important our people are rewarded for the work they do in line with their terms and conditions."
A Scottish Government spokesperson added: "Scotland's police officers provide a vital service, every day, to ensure we continue to live in safe and protected communities.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Urgent search launched for man who vanished while paddleboarding
Emergency services were called to the scene on Saturday evening to reports of a man who had been paddleboarding on Loch Ore Meadows in Lochgelly, Fife, and who had not returned to shore An urgent search is underway after a paddleboarder disappeared in a Scottish Loch, sparking a major emergency response. Rescue teams descended on Loch Ore Meadows Country Park in Lochgelly around 5.25pm on Saturday following reports of a missing male who had been out on the water. A full-scale operation involving Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Services, Scottish Ambulance Services, and HM Coastguard has been launched, with extensive searches being conducted. Authorities are continuing their investigation and have urged the public to steer clear of the area for the time being. Dramatic images from the scene show rescue teams arriving with a lifeboat and conducting searches across the loch's surface. A search helicopter was also spotted overhead, aiding in the efforts to locate the missing individual, reports the Daily Record. A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed: "Around 5.25pm on Saturday, 28 June, 2025 we were called to Loch Ore Meadows, Lochgelly after receiving a report of concern for a male who had been paddle boarding. Emergency services, including the Coastguard, are in attendance and extensive searches are being carried out. Enquiries are ongoing and we would ask people to please avoid the area if possible." In a tragic update from last month, a body was retrieved from the water after a swimmer went missing. The emergency call came in at about 9pm on Saturday May 10, prompting an immediate response at Loch Ard. Divers, marine units, mountain rescue teams, and air support units were all involved in the thorough search efforts. Tragically, a 42 year old man's body was retrieved from the water after an extensive search operation. His family has been informed of the heartbreaking discovery. Authorities have indicated that there appears to be nothing suspicious about the incident. A photo released by Loch Ard Adventure Centre captured the moment emergency services were on site last month, aiding in the search efforts. Police Scotland will be submitting a report to the procurator fiscal shortly. A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed: "The body of a 42-year-old man has been recovered following searches to trace a man who was last seen swimming in the water at Loch Ard. "Police received a report around 9pm on Saturday, May 10, 2025, and extensive searches were carried out by the dive and marine unit along with the Mountain Rescue Team and air support unit. Early afternoon on Sunday, May 11, the man's body was recovered. His next of kin have been made aware. There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a report to the Procurator Fiscal will be sent in due course."
Scotsman
4 hours ago
- Scotsman
18 fire stations across Scotland have no running water as firefighters treated with 'contempt'
The Scottish Conservatives described the situation for firefighters as 'intolerable'. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... SNP ministers have been accused of treating firefighters with 'contempt' after new figures revealed 18 stations across Scotland have no running water. The statistics, obtained by the Scottish Conservatives, come in the wake of proposals unveiled this week by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to close up to 13 stations due to funding cuts. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The 18 stations without running water are primarily located across the Highlands and rural areas, and include Cromarty, Foyers and Spean Bridge. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has launched a public consultation on proposals that could see up to 13 fire stations closed | PA The SFRS, which has seen its budget cut by £57 million in real terms over ten years, was criticised by the Health and Safety Executive earlier this year for the facilities at some stations. Colin Brown, of the Fire Brigades Union, said the service has seen year-on-year cuts to jobs and services. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Decades of underfunding have left the Scottish fire service with a crumbling estate and an eye-watering £800 million hole in their capital finances,' he said. 'What we need is sustained investment in staff, stations and equipment to keep our communities safe.' Conservative MSP Sharon Dowey MSP said: 'These shocking figures are proof of the SNP's contempt for Scotland's brave firefighters. 'It's shameful and negligent that they are risking the health and wellbeing of dedicated emergency workers by denying them access to the most basic yet essential facilities at work. 'SNP ministers have been short-changing the service for years, leaving firefighters to do their job with one hand behind their back, jeopardising public safety. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'On their watch, the number of firefighters is plummeting, stations are being earmarked for closure and now we learn a growing number of bases lack running water. This situation is intolerable, unsustainable and could have devastating consequences.' Capital backlog of over £800m Assistant Chief Officer Craig McGoldrick, director of training, safety and assurance for the SFRS, said: 'It is well documented that SFRS has an insurmountable capital backlog of more than £800 million and that many of our ageing buildings require action. 'We can only address this by changing how we work. We're currently running a public consultation that outlines 23 options for change to help address urgent property issues and ensure our resources – staff, stations and appliances are matched to operational risk and demand across Scotland.' He added: 'The safety of our firefighters will always be a priority and it's important that our crews can shower and clean kit following attendance at an incident with potential contaminants. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad '£3.2m is being invested by the service into the management of fire contaminants and this includes boosting our reserves of personal protective equipment, enhanced storage for contaminated kit and new laundry procedures. 'For the small number of stations without running water, specialist decontamination wipes have been provided.' A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: 'Scotland's firefighters do an amazing job and the Scottish Government continues to support the SFRS to deliver the high standard of services required to keep Scotland safe with an overall budget of £412.2m, an increase of £18.8m for 2025/26. Scotland continues to have more firefighters per capita than other parts of the UK. 'The SFRS has been clear that the changes proposed are not about cuts, but so it can adapt to the changing risks and demands of communities and ensure firefighters are in the right place at the right time. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Times
4 hours ago
- Times
SNP's ‘student politicians' snub submarine welding centre
Sir Keir Starmer's government is expected to step in to fund an ambitious defence facility on the Clyde after the SNP's 'student union' politicians refused grant funding on ideological grounds. A £2.5 million grant from Scottish Enterprise, the national economic development agency, for a submarine welding centre was withheld due to a party ban on 'munitions' funding. Rolls-Royce, which is ready to support the project by providing £11 million worth of specialist equipment, expressed 'dismay' at the news last week. It said the project had been classified as a 'munitions' scheme solely on the basis that it would 'support the construction of naval vessels'. • SNP ban on 'munitions' funds puts Scottish shipbuilding on the line In a letter seen by The Times, Steve Carlier, president of submarines at Rolls-Royce, warned John Swinney, the first minister, that the project 'cannot continue' without the public funding and was at risk of being formally cancelled within days. The funding, which Scottish Enterprise said had not been formally applied for, is believed to have been rejected as the Scottish government's definition of 'weapons or ammunition' would include a 'military submarine', rather than directly relating to any arms. Rolls-Royce has disputed that it is a 'munitions' company. All UK military submarines are powered by nuclear propulsion, regardless of whether or not they have the capacity to carry nuclear weapons, and Rolls-Royce technology is not used for firing warheads. John Healey, the UK defence secretary, told The Sunday Show, on BBC1 that he could 'hardly believe' a Scottish nationalist government would stand in the way of skills development in Scotland. He said: 'We have a long-term partnership with Rolls-Royce who are central to some of the military equipment that keep us all safe. Rolls-Royce want to set up a new welding skills centre, not just to support its munitions business but also to support Scotland's shipyards [to offer] essential skills, new opportunities for young people. 'If the Scottish SNP government won't step up to support skills and the future of jobs in Scotland then we will. It really strikes me as student union politics. This is not a serious government concerned about the opportunities for young people in the future or the skills base for Scotland, or indeed the industry and innovation for the future.' The SNP also has an ambition to rid Scotland of nuclear weapons, which are based at Faslane naval base on the Clyde. Healey added: 'This is a deterrent that for over 70 years has been our guarantor of security in the UK. It is what Putin fears most and the UK is the only country that commits its nuclear deterrent in full to the defence of our Nato allies. Strong deterrence is required and vital to keep people safe in the future.' • Most Scots want to keep UK's nuclear deterrent, poll shows Britain is also engaged in highly sensitive talks to purchase fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons, in a major expansion of the deterrent intended to counter the growing threat posed by Russia. The move would represent the biggest development in the UK's deterrent since the Cold War and a recognition that the world has entered a more dangerous nuclear era. Healey would not reveal where the new fighters would be based but the prospect of nuclear-armed jets being deployed from RAF Lossiemouth, or on manoeuvres at the air force's ancillary training and support bases in Scotland, will incense the SNP and its core anti-nuclear supporters. Mairi Gougeon, the Scottish rural affairs secretary, told the BBC that the welding centre was never eligible for funding thanks to the 'long-standing' policy of the SNP government. She said: 'I think the key difference here between ourselves and the UK government is that when we have principles, we stick to them.' Gougeon said Scottish ministers 'completely understand' the 'really unprecedented threats' the UK faced on the world stage and confirmed the SNP supported the increased defence spending announced by the prime minister. She added: 'That doesn't mean that we can't also still maintain the policy positions that we've had for quite a long time and have been long standing within our party, that we don't support the use of public finance for the manufacture of munitions and neither do we support that for nuclear weapons.' A Scottish government spokesman said: 'We are committed to ensuring Scotland is the home of manufacturing innovation, but the Scottish government's long-standing policy position is that it does not use public money to support the manufacture of munitions. 'We recognise the important role of the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors in the Scottish economy and we regularly engage with a range of companies, alongside ADS Scotland as the industry body. 'We are investing up to £2 million to develop engineering skills in the Glasgow city region, designed by the Clyde Maritime Cluster in partnership with Skills Development Scotland. 'The Scottish government has yet to see the detail of the Defence Spending Review, but we remain firmly opposed to the threat, use and basing of nuclear weapons as a deterrent in Scotland.'
