Police officers suffering burnout and working in ‘desperate’ conditions, says new report

The officers in Greater Glasgow, Tayside, and Lothian and Borders also complained of low morale and dwindling resources in a survey carried out by the Scottish Police Federation (SPF).

The health and safety study of around 700 officers, published on Tuesday (March 4) in 1919 Magazine, highlights several areas where Police Scotland could make improvements, including reviewing police buildings, improving access to Taser, and rolling out supervisor training in mental wellbeing and identifying suicide.

Meanwhile, the Scottish force recorded nearly 68,000 ‘rest days’ that were cancelled in just six months – the equivalent of one every four minutes.

SPF chair David Threadgold said there is “unsustainable” pressure felt by officers to meet the demands placed on them.

But Police Scotland said its own workforce survey found “areas of real positivity”.

The force also acknowledged that too many officers are being cited for court and are not called to give evidence, and said it is working with partners to “change policy and practice” on this.

The Scottish government said it is increasing investment by £70 million to £1.62 billion to “support policing capacity and capability”.

The SPF’s deep dive report states: “Lack of morale was mentioned in comments by numerous officers.

“Whether that’s getting days cancelled for events, holidays ignored by court citations, depressing buildings to work from, lack of support in dealing with traumatic situations to lack of acknowledgement for doing a bit of good work.

“These are all issues that could be addressed and used to provide a happier and more effective working life for officers.”

Operational base levels – the minimum levels of staffing – are routinely not being met, according to the survey, with 61 per cent saying they are rarely met, and 18 per cent saying never.

And only five per cent of respondents said they always get uninterrupted rest days. Thirty-eight per cent said they sometimes get them, while 21 per cent said this happens rarely.

Separately, a report released by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) shows there were 67,794 cancelled rest days over a six-month period last year within Police Scotland – 32,260 in the third quarter of 2024/25 and 35,534 in the previous three months.

SPF chair David Threadgold said: “Every single rest day that is cancelled has to be reallocated. That simply pushes the problem down the road.

“Within policing there is an understanding that there will be an element of disruption, but the inefficiencies in the courts system and the impact of sickness absence is having a significant impact.

“If police aren’t getting the rest they need, can they carry out their duties at the highest level?

“We are in a situation now where Police Scotland can only deliver policing by cancelling rest days. We need to remember the impact this has on individuals. It disproportionately impacts those on the front line.”

Liam Kerr, the Scottish Conservatives’ spokesperson for justice, said officers are “beyond breaking point”.

“With numbers at their lowest since around 2008, the goodwill of police officers is increasingly being relied upon to ensure shifts are filled,” he said.

“We have reached this point due to the SNP’s shocking neglect of frontline policing over the last 18 years which has pushed officers beyond breaking point.

“Rather than continuing to ignore the needs of our police, SNP ministers should show some common sense and ensure resources are in place to urgently boost officer numbers.”

However, a Scottish government spokesperson said: “Our record police funding in 2024/25 has enabled Police Scotland to take on more recruits in this financial year than at any time since 2013.

“Police Scotland announced in January that the latest intake had brought the total number of police officers to 16,614.

“In 2025/26, we are increasing investment in policing by £70 million to £1.62 billion to support policing capacity and capability.”

Police Scotland Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: “The chief constable has been clear that policing’s role in dealing with mental health incidents and supporting vulnerable people is beyond where it should be, and has established a mental health taskforce to coordinate work to better balance our involvement.

“We also know that too many officers and members of the public are being cited for court and are not called to give evidence. We are working with partners to change policy and practice around how we manage and progress cases through court.

“A summary case management initiative is being rolled out across Scotland after demonstrating that cases within pilot courts were resolving more quickly, improving the experience of victims and witnesses, and allowing more officers to be available to deliver policing in our communities.

“Work is progressing to reduce the impact policing of events is having on officers and we are already seeing a reduction in cancelled rest days.

“Our recruitment pipeline is healthy and the latest intake of probationary constables brought officer establishment to 16,614.”

He added: “The chief constable has consistently highlighted the skill, commitment, goodwill and professionalism, our officers, staff, and volunteers demonstrate as they deliver a challenging and essential public service for our communities.

“Our own workforce survey highlighted areas of real positivity, including the strong ethos of teamwork and the commitment to making a difference in society, underlining the huge value our people provide for communities.

“It also showed there are challenges. The onus is on police leaders to advocate for appropriate resources for policing and deliver change that supports frontline policing to deliver for the public.

“We’ve set out our vision of safer communities, less crime, supported victims and a thriving workforce and our first business plan which outlines the steps we’re already taking to achieve these ambitions.”