Senior police commanders have blamed pension changes and “negative media” for low morale in Police Scotland.
A third of police personnel want to leave in the next three years, a recent survey by the Scottish Police Authority found.
Personnel say they feel undervalued, lack necessary resources, feel pressure in their job and have concerns about their work/life balance.
Changes to the police pension was a factor in almost half (49%) of the responses of those who want to leave.
Senior officers from Dumfries and Galloway, Fife and Moray acknowledged that morale was low at Holyrood’s Justice Subcommittee on Policing.
Convener Christine Grahame asked how the “worryingly” low levels of morale can be addressed.
Chief Superintendent Mike Leslie, from Dumfries and Galloway, said: “That’s a good question. I think the pensions changes has had a significant impact on staff.
“If you’re talking to them about morale that is one of the number one things they will mention in terms of the extra years that they have to work and what that pension will be at the end of the day.
“We’re going through the biggest change in public service and human beings, in my opinion, like consistency in their life.
“This change process will take time but what I would say in terms of morale that the boys and girls out there on the frontline go out on a daily basis, they do a cracking job.
“In my opinion, morale is low but it is still a great job and they’re going out there and doing a great job.”
Superintendent Kate Stephen, from Moray, highlighted the impact “negative media” has on their officers.
“Everyone that is in the police service, whether it is a police officer or a member of staff, it is your family,” she said.
“So, when headlines are slating your organisation they are slating your family, and I think people take that personally and as a personal slant.
“That affects morale across the board.
“We can’t stop what’s printed in the press but it does impact on how the guys and girls out there feel when they are delivering the service.”
Chief Superintendent Angela McLaren, from Fife, pledged to engage with staff on the survey results and encourage them to engage in an action plan to drive morale up.
“The officers still have a passion in what they do,” she said.
“It’s still a vocation. They join policing, as we all did, because it’s what they want to do and want to make a difference.
“That still comes through very strongly. They have really good relationships with first-line managers.”