By 1919 staff
The number of police officers in Scotland has slipped to the lowest level in two years.
New figures have revealed there was the equivalent of 16,402 full-time cops as of June 30, with a slight downward trend from previous months continuing.
Compared to the previous three months, the number fell marginally by 29. However, the last time it was this low was in June 2024, when there were 16,207 officers.
A major recruitment drive saw numbers rise in the second half of that year and into early 2025, designed to encourage potential candidates to view Police Scotland as an “employer of choice”.
Strength in numbers
Total number of police officers (full-time equivalent) in Scotland
The force’s workforce strength still remains a long way off what it was a decade ago, when the full-time equivalent (FTE) total stood at 17,242.
A minimum level of 17,234 was previously set by the Scottish Government in 2007, which was later abandoned, although the SNP administration repeatedly argues that Scotland has more officers per capita than England and Wales.
David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), said: “The latest workforce figures may show only a small quarterly reduction, but they continue a concerning longer-term trend.
“Police Scotland remains hundreds of officers below where it was a decade ago, at a time when policing is facing increasingly complex and demanding challenges.
“Our members continue to deliver an outstanding service, but they are doing so under relentless pressure. Every reduction in officer numbers places greater strain on those who remain, impacting workloads, wellbeing, and ultimately the service that can be provided to communities.”
He added: “Recruitment is only one part of the equation. We also need to ensure we retain experienced officers by making policing an attractive long-term career, with competitive pay, proper support, and investment in the resources officers need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”
Last year, 1919 revealed a sharp drop in the number of people applying to the national force. Questions have also been raised over police entrance tests after the pass rate soared.
In 2022/23 only 78 per cent of applicants passed the Police Scotland Entrance Test (PSET) – a 60-minute exam covering numeracy, literacy, and information handling – which rose to 87 per cent in 2023/24, and even higher in the months that followed.
“A key recruitment challenge and focus continues to be in rural and remote locations”
Chief Constable Jo Farrell
In her latest report to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), Chief Constable Jo Farrell wrote: “Police Scotland is recruiting, and we welcomed 169 new probationers to policing as they made the declaration of a constable during a ceremony in our headquarters on July 16.
“In addition to our regular officer cadre, we also welcomed 22 special constables to policing, as they too made the declaration at our headquarters this month.
“Our volunteers make a significant contribution to policing in Scotland, providing additional resources, strengthening trust and community engagement through their intimate knowledge of local communities.
“Collectively, they have delivered 51,915 volunteering hours during 2025/26 in support of frontline policing, major events, roads policing, preventative activity and community-based operations.”
However, she added: “A key recruitment challenge and focus continues to be in rural and remote locations, and our recruitment vehicle has been deployed across rural Scotland including Caithness and Argyll, with officers promoting our in-person and online events to potential candidates in these local communities.”
In this month’s edition of 1919, we highlight the struggles facing rural cops in Argyll and West Dunbartonshire – or L Division – with a catalogue of incidents where officers have spent part of their shift travelling hundreds of miles to cover jobs or to transport detainees to custody centres.
There are also wider concerns about the number of officers retiring or leaving the force.
In his speech to the Scottish Police Federation’s conference last year, chair David Threadgold said that context is important when it comes to claims about recruitment levels.
“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Police Scotland has to increase its appeal and reach into the wider communities of Scotland, but we are steadfast in our view that this is, and should always remain, a disciplined organisation that demands the highest standard of potential recruit,” he said.
Responding to the latest data, Scottish Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: “Crime is on the rise and Police Scotland is already stretched to breaking point – but the SNP has let police officer numbers fall yet again.
“The SNP’s reckless approach to crime is putting communities at risk.
“On the SNP’s watch there are fewer police on the streets and more criminals being let out of prison early.
“The SNP must stand up for our communities and make sure Police Scotland has the staff and resources it needs to do its job.”
Scottish ministers allocated an extra £90.4 million in day-to-day spending in 2026/27, but that is nearly £15 million less than what the Chief Constable said she needed to simply “stand still”.
1919 analysis of modelling presented to parliament suggests the smaller uplift could require the force to find around 550 ‘workforce modernisation savings’ this year.
However, in an exclusive interview with 1919, new Justice Secretary Neil Gray said: “[The Chief Constable] has been clear that she has what she needs in order to maintain that 16,500 approximate figure.
“That being said, I recognise that with more resource comes greater opportunity to do, for instance, more community policing, more interventionist and early intervention work.”
The Scottish Government has been contacted for further comment.