There are currently 17,117 full-time police officers serving across Scotland, as of December 2021, surpassing previous lows recorded in 2018.

Since the police merger, there are also nearly 650 fewer local police officers available to patrol streets and respond to calls. Across Scotland, 12 out of 13 local police divisions have now seen their officer numbers cut since the merger.

Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary, Jamie Greene MSP, said: “It’s little wonder violent crime is rising when police officers across Scotland are being asked to fight crime with one hand tied behind their back by the SNP Government

“Our police work tirelessly day and night to keep the public safe, yet they are being let down appallingly.

“First, they get hit with a real-terms cut to their capital budget, and now we learn there are fewer officers patrolling our streets than at any time since the SNP merged Scotland’s police forces.

“These unacceptable cuts are putting public safety at risk. The Scottish Conservatives would restore police patrols with our Local Policing Act, and ensure that Scotland’s police are always given the funding and equipment they need to keep the public safe.”