Scottish Police

About Scottish Police

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This site aims to keep you updated on matters relating to, and the actions of, the police in Scotland.

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Most police powers and functions are devolved to the Scottish Parliament. Areas for which legislative responsibility remains with the UK Government include national security, terrorism, firearms and drugs.

A tripartite arrangement exists for the accountability for the police service in Scotland. Scottish Ministers retain overall responsibility for policing policy. Police Authorities and Joint Police Boards are responsible for setting police budgets and ensuring that best value is attained for the public purse. Chief Constables are responsible for the operational aspects of policing within their force areas.

Individual forces are funded in part by grant paid directly by Scottish Ministers and in part by a local authority’s revenue support grant, non-domestic rate income, and the council tax. Capital expenditure is met through borrowing. The police authority or joint board agrees the budget and resources for each force but decisions on the allocation of resources to meet operational requirements are a matter for each Chief Constable.

In addition to the 8 Scottish police forces, there are a number of common police services used by all forces including the Scottish Police College and the Scottish Criminal Record Office. A collaborative agreement signed by all 8 Chief Constables and Police Authority Convenors exists for the national operation of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency.

* There were 17,278 police officers (full-time equivalent) in Scotland on 30 June 2009, the highest level ever recorded.
* This total includes 16,684 police officers deployed in the eight Scottish Police Forces (including Additional Regular Police), and 594 on secondment or central service.
* Police officer numbers have increased by 230 full-time equivalent ( FTE) officers (+1.4%) in the last quarter, from 31 March 2009, and by 940 (+5.8%) in the last year, from 30 June 2008.

Table 1 – Number of Police Officers (Full-time Equivalent) in Scotland 1 by Police Force and Deployment 2, 30 June 2009

1. All figures are expressed in terms of full-time equivalent ( FTE) police officers, rounded to the nearest whole number.
2. For defintions of the deployment categories, see Note 2.
3. Scotland and force totals may not equal the sum of the parts due to rounding.

Table 2 – Number of Police Officers (Full-time Equivalent) in Scotland 1,2 by Police Force, 2003-09

1. All figures are expressed in terms of full-time equivalent ( FTE) police officers, rounded to the nearest whole number.
2. Figures include all police officers employed by the force, including those on SPC training, secondment, central service, long-term sick leave and maternity/adoption leave, but excluding those on career breaks.
3. Figures are as at the end of the respective quarter – Q1 = 31 March, Q2 = 30 June, Q3 = 30 September and Q4 = 31 December.
4. Full-time equivalent figures have only been available from September 2003.
5. Scotland totals may not equal the sum of the parts due to rounding.

Statistics from Scottish Goverment