COURIER OPINION: Why are all our police officers quitting? And how do we stop it happening?
ByThe Courier
Questions are being asked about Police Scotland numbers.
New numbers showing more than 800 officers have quit Police Scotland after serving for less than a decade are concerning.
The statistics, uncovered through a freedom of information request by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, show a force in a constant state of flux, with more than 400 of the rank and file leaving within three years.
While around 600 new recruits were brought through the training college at Tulliallan this year to fill the gaps, it is a worrying trend.
Working for the emergency services used to be considered a vocation – a career for life.
New officers make an appeal to boost numbers at the Police Scotland training college, Tulliallan. Image: Robert Perry/PA Wire.
Scotland’s police service needs stability and experience if it is to carry out its duties to the public.
The factors influencing young officers to walk away need to be understood and, if possible, addressed.
A career serving the public and helping fight the ills of society should be an attractive proposition.
If that no longer holds true, then society has a major issue to sort out before the thin blue line gets so thin that it snaps in two.
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COURIER OPINION: Why are all our police officers quitting? And how do we stop it happening?
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