More police officers on restricted duties in Scotland

The number of police officers only able to perform restricted duties has almost trebled in five years, figures suggest.

There were 1,412 officers not able to perform all aspects of their job in 2011-12, according to statistics released under freedom of information legislation.

That compares with 560 in 2006-07 and means that around one in 12 police officers (8%) were on restricted duties last year.

In the Central and Tayside areas, one in seven officers (14%) were on restricted duties in 2011-12.

Police can be put on restricted duties because of injury, illness or pregnancy.