Police recruitment is a ‘nightmare’, says MSP

A SHARP decline in the number of police officers in Dumfries and Galloway has created a ‘recruitment nightmare’ for the region. Previously the Scottish Police Federation, which covers the majority of rank and file officers, claimed rural areas including Dumfries and Galloway already posed a ‘logistical and recruitment nightmare’ when it came to delivering public services. It has now warned that the situation is about to get worse, amid the introduction of new occupancy charges for officers. Federation bosses have warned this newly imposed charge could push officers out of remote and rural areas. Regional MSP Finlay Carson spoke to the Scottish Parliament this week about the potential impact that the decline in officer numbers has had on rural communities, like this, since 2020. He said: “The real facts tell a different story. Police Scotland has been de-funded to the point where officer numbers in Dumfries and Galloway have fallen by 22 per cent since 2020. “Does the Cabinet Secretary accept that the penalty is worsening our already dire situation? Will she urgently review the policy before rural policing is hollowed out even further?” In response, Justice Secretary Angela Constance insisted it remained the job of the chief constable to deploy police officers across the regions. She commented: “As of 30 September, 354 officers were deployed in V division, which is the division that covers Dumfries and Galloway. “That figure is stable in comparison to the previous quarter.”