A leading Forth Valley cop said online crime is becoming part of frontline policing as he defended a drop in officer numbers.
The latest Police Scotland data on officer and staff numbers for the second quarter of 2022 - up to June - has revealed a total of 599 local cops on the street.
This figure - which includes officers employed in community and response policing teams, as well as divisional road police - is down four on March 2022 numbers and has reduced by 14 from June 2021.
It follows a general trend of police officer numbers being reduced in recent years, with Scotland overall losing a total of 119 officers in the year from June 2021 to June 2022.
In response, the region’s top cop highlighted the role of online crime, as well as the work of national and specialist officers not included in the local team numbers.
Divisional Commander for Forth Valley, Chief Superintendent Alan Gibson, said: “The nature of crime is changing and Police Scotland needs to change with it.
“The online space is becoming a bigger part of the frontline of policing every day.
“As well as keeping people safe on the streets, our officers and staff are keeping children safe on their computers and smartphones in every community in Scotland. These officers may not be visible, they may not be patrolling in cars, but the work they do is just as important, and the threats they are dealing with are on the rise.
“Officers in national and specialist roles also prevent and investigate crime in local communities, including some of the most serious offences such as murder, sexual offences, fraud, domestic abuse.
“Officer numbers are lower as a result of restricted recruitment because of Covid, the COP26 climate change summit, and increased retirals resulting from changes to pension arrangements.
“However, we are recruiting and 300 new probationary constables were welcomed recently, with 15 posted to Forth Valley Division.”
The reduction in local officer numbers was criticised by Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Dean Lockhart, who said: “It is local policing divisions such as Forth Valley that are shamefully but predictably bearing the brunt of the SNP’s brutal underfunding of our police force.
“It is shocking to see such a reduction in local officers since SNP ministers merged forces into Police Scotland in 2013. Sadly, that trend is continuing with each passing quarter.
“It is hardly surprising, though, when the SNP Government have treated our hardworking officers with such contempt. Officers across Scotland have removed their goodwill after the derisory pay offer that has been put forward.
“The Scottish Government should never have let it get to that stage and for officer numbers to fall so far. That only increases the risk of crime in our communities and increases further the pressure on our police officers.”
