By Adam Morris
Poor pay for younger officers and the desire for a career change among older colleagues have been blamed for hundreds of cops taking on second jobs.
Research by 1919 has revealed there are 1,497 police who have additional jobs outside the force or separate business interests.
Many of these are ‘hobby’ jobs taken on as an enjoyable outside activity, while others are simply incomes derived from letting out property, which nevertheless must be declared.
But a freedom of information response from Police Scotland also shows hundreds work in shops and trades, and one officer even supplements their income through professional betting and gaming.
More than 100 found employment in ‘entertainment’, 20 are ‘support workers’, while 19 list ‘construction’ as a source of bonus income.
The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which is currently fighting for better wages for officers, said it is aware of younger officers who are forced to find extra work to pay the bills.
On top of that, some have grown weary of the job and are also exploring other industries with a view to leaving policing altogether.
“The cost of living has gone through the roof and wages haven’t; pay is about 15 per cent behind where it should be,” said David Kennedy, general secretary of the SPF.
“For those at the beginning of their career, some are having to take second jobs just to make enough money.
“And for those who are older, there’s an element of wanting out and trying other things because the job for many has become so unbearable.
“If you compare the standard of living a police officer had 15 or 20 years ago it was so much better.”
The Scottish Government told 1919 the issue of second jobs, recruitment, and deployment are all issues for the chief constable.
A similar challenge exists for officers in England, where around 33,000 officers are understood to have additional jobs.
It was reported last month the external occupations taken on by cops south of the border include bee-keeping, driving Deliveroo vehicles, and running a tea shop.
Bosses there are concerned those who make significant sums from second jobs may be tempted to quit policing altogether, while the English federation warned that too many officers were picking up extra work “to pay the rent”.
Police Scotland’s breakdown of industries is less descriptive than its English counterparts, but it did reveal 133 officers working in ‘education, training or coaching’, 314 in shops or similar businesses, and 193 in ‘sport’
David Kennedy, Scottish Police Federation
It is understood those working in sport include Scottish football referees, one of many areas where officers are encouraged to engage in outside pursuits so long as it does not present a clash with policing duties.
Police Scotland said additional roles include those who hold charitable posts, or help out in hospices, coastguard and the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution).
However, opposition politicians drew a link between second jobs and a deteriorating safety environment for officers which has led to a rise in assaults and ongoing pay disputes.
“It should never have reached a point where so many cops are having to take second jobs,” said Scottish Conservative justice spokesperson Liam Kerr.
“Our police officers are overwhelmed as it is, without having to look for extra income just to make ends meet.”
The statistics provided by Police Scotland also reveal a departmental and geographical breakdown.
Glasgow’s G Division hosts the most officers with additional interest with 130 cases, followed by 80 in Tayside, while both the North East and Lothian and Borders recorded 78 instances.
In the specialist crime division, 295 have outside interests, alongside 170 in operational support, and 122 in the corporate services division.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said the force has “strict procedures” in relation to outside interests.
They added: “Assessments are made on every application as to whether declared business interests could interfere with colleagues’ ability to meet core delivery standards.
“If any conflict was discovered, the business interest would not be approved.
“No other post can be considered to be a second full-time job – many, in fact, are voluntary or charitable posts.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “Scotland’s police officers and staff provide a vital service, every day, to ensure we continue to live in safe and protected communities.
“Police officers in Scotland continue to be the best paid in the UK, at the minimum and maximum of each rank.
“We are investing a record £1.64 billion in policing this year and our continued investment has enabled Police Scotland to take on more recruits in the last financial year than at any time since 2013, with further intakes planned throughout 2025.”
Police officers with registered second jobs or business interests:
| Business interest | Total |
|---|---|
| Property letting | 517 |
| Shops or similar businesses | 314 |
| Sport | 193 |
| Education/training/coaching | 133 |
| Entertainment | 104 |
| Trade | 98 |
| Volunteer | 98 |
| Support worker | 20 |
| Construction | 19 |
| Betting/gaming | 1 |
| Total | 1,497 |