A study looked at police officer health in Scotland. It suggested improvements for Police Scotland. Buildings should be reviewed, said the study. Taser access and mental health training are also recommended.

The study showed many cancelled “rest days.” Scottish police had nearly 68,000 cancelled days in only six months total. That equals one every four minutes.

SPF chair David Threadgold spoke, stating that police are under intense pressure and struggle to meet all the job demands. Police Scotland had a different view, noting “real positivity” in their own survey.

The study found too many officers get court citations and often don’t give evidence afterward. The force will work to change this, while the Scottish Government is increasing funds. They are adding £70 million, for a total of £1.62 billion, to improve policing. The SPF report mentions low morale among police staff.

Officers report feeling bad about cancelled days, and that holidays are affected by court duties. They also state that buildings are depressing to work in and support is lacking after trauma. Furthermore, work is not always properly recognized by supervisors.

The study found staffing levels are often too low, with sixty-one percent of officers reporting that levels are rarely met and eighteen percent saying they are never sufficient. As a result, many do not get proper rest, as only five percent always get uninterrupted rest. Thirty-eight percent sometimes get it, while other officers don’t.

The Scottish Police Authority released another report, stating that the rest days were canceled over six months mostly in 2024. Threadgold says cancelled days cause problems because each rest day must be rescheduled. This delays the issue, making it a persistent problem. Inefficiencies in the courts worsen things, and the impact of sick days also adds pressure.

Can officers perform well if they lack rest? Threadgold questioned this issue in his report. He reminded everyone that Police Scotland relies on cancelling rest days, which impacts the front line the most.

Liam Kerr, a Conservative justice spokesperson, stated that officers are “beyond breaking point,” noting that officer numbers are the lowest since 2008. He believes that the system relies on officer goodwill to fill shifts. Kerr blamed neglect of policing for this fact and thinks resources should be in place soon.

In response to Kerr, the Scottish Government stated that police funding is at an all-time high and recruitment is also boosted by this funding. Scotland hired more officers than since 2013, with 16,614 officers in January. The Government restated raising police funds, adding £70 million more to increase supports and strengthen policing.