DUMFRIES and Galloway have seen one of the largest reductions of police officers in the country, according to new figures.
About 36 officers were lost between 2020 and 2021, with numbers locally dropping from 401 to 365.
The reduction in manpower has taken place all over Scotland since the merging of police forces into Police Scotland, with more than 640 officers having been cut from frontline duties since the SNP created the single national police authority.
Commenting on the data, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries Finlay Carson said: “Our hardworking police officers in Dumfries and Galloway work tirelessly to protect our communities, but they are doing so with one hand tied behind their back thanks to the SNP Government.
“We need to properly support local policing efforts which is why I back the Scottish Conservatives proposal for a Local Policing Act to guarantee police will haver the budgets they need and that local people are at the heart of decision-making.”
As of December 31 2021 there were 17,117 full-time equivalent police officers across Scotland – the lowest figure recorded since 2009.
