Applications to join Police Scotland have more than halved amid calls across the public sector for pay rises.
Figures reported by 1919 magazine show that there were 2,237 applications in 2021/22, down from 5,611 the previous year and also a huge drop on 2019/20, when 4,228 people applied, sparking further calls for more funding and a pay increase to entice more people to apply.
The findings come as officers in Scotland withdraw their 'goodwill', which means they are not starting their shifts early or taking radio equipment home when their duty ends.
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Calum Steele, General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said: “Policing is clearly becoming a less attractive as a career choice, which could be down to issues around pay, funding and falling numbers of officers putting more strain on available resources.
“We are aware there is a very buoyant jobs market in the UK just now and the police service is competing against a whole variety of other professions and industries.
“Clearly issues around pay and reward and flexibility are playing a part in the falling numbers of applications.”
Steele also pointed to warnings of a looming retirement crisis in Police Scotland. It is thought around one in ten police officers are considering leaving following the introduction of pension arrangements that would let them retire five years early.
Steele added: “This makes it all the more crucial that we ensure we are attracting a high number of strong candidates with each recruitment drive.”
Latest statistics show police numbers have fallen to 16,805, below the “full officer establishment” quota of 17,234. Last year, 442 new officers were appointed by Police Scotland, a slight increase on the 430 appointed in 2020/21, but well below the 1,017 brought on in 2019/20.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Police officer numbers in Scotland remain significantly up from 2007, and are favourable relative to elsewhere in the UK with around 32 officers per 10,000 population in Scotland compared to around 23 officers per 10,000 population in England and Wales.
“It is normal for officer numbers to fluctuate and the current figures were impacted by use of the Police Scotland training college as a base for UK officers during COP26, as well as the ongoing impact of coronavirus restrictions.
“Despite UK Government austerity we have increased police funding year-on-year since 2016/17 and have invested more than £10 billion in policing since the creation of Police Scotland in 2013.”
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