The number of applicants to join Police Scotland dropped by half last year amid fears low wages and poor conditions are turning people away from the profession.
Figures out today show there were 2,237 applications in 2021/22, down from 5,611 the previous year. It is also a huge drop on 2019/20, when 4,228 people applied. The findings come amid a pay dispute which has seen officers in Scotland withdraw their "goodwill".
Police officers are legally prevented from striking but they will now not start shifts early or take radio equipment home when their duty ends. Further talks between the Federation and the Scottish Government are expected to take place on Monday.
