Policing Our Communities update
Police Scotland will pause all training and redirect officers to support and maintain operational policing over the busy festive period.
The Service will also postpone the planned intake of around 200 probationary constables who were due to join the Service on 8 January 2024.
The moves will free up training staff to support frontline colleagues by performing operational duties over Christmas and New Year, traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for policing.
Pausing training from 1 December to 31 January will also ensure frontline officers are available for their core policing duties during this time.
The current intake of 200 probationers, who took their oath of office on 20 September, will finish their training at Tulliallan on 8 December and will then be deployed to their divisions.
No offers to candidates for the postponed January intake have yet been made and the application process will continue for next year.
Police Scotland has been clear about hard choices being taken to maintain effective policing within the funding available. The Service has already been required to reduce the budgeted officer establishment this year from 17,234 to 16,600.
Deputy Chief Constable Designate Fiona Taylor said: “I have been clear that we will continue to communicate about the hard choices being taken to maintain effective policing within the funding available.
“As I outlined during the Scottish Police Authority board meeting in September, we have been closely assessing the officer recruitment profile for 2023-24 and I have now taken the decision to reprofile the planned intakes over the rest of the year by postponing the January course.
“Despite the funding pressures we’re facing, communities should be reassured that we are doing everything possible to direct resources to areas which encounter the greatest demand, and which carry the greatest risk, and that we continue to effectively reduce harm and protect the vulnerable.”
DCC Taylor updated the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) board on 28 September about the urgent action being taken prioritise resources and protect the vulnerable while the organisation worked to achieve savings.
The Service has already paused police support staff recruitment, except for some business-critical areas such as our contact centres and custody suites, and is reviewing senior officer command structures and support services.
Outline proposals to accelerate the disposal of around 30 police buildings were shared with the SPA last month and further details will be announced when detailed consultation plans are finalised.
Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority, provided a joint submission to the Scottish Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee as part of the pre-budget scrutiny process. This submission contains some estimates of police officer and staff numbers should future budgets be flat cash.
Police Scotland returns more than £200m to the public purse every year compared to legacy arrangements.
The Scottish Government’s budget for 2023-24 confirmed an £80m core funding uplift for policing, with £37m required to fund the ongoing cost of the 2022-23 pay award, leaving £43m to fund unavoidable pay and other inflationary costs for the current financial year.
