The last chief constable of Grampian Police has criticised a decision by the new single Scottish force to scrap a cadet training scheme as part of multimillion-pound budget cuts.
Colin McKerracher said he was “disappointed” and “saddened” that the recruitment programme targeting school-leavers was being phased out.
Mr McKerracher said a force “should mirror the community it serves” and he warned against the creation of an “elite club” open only to those with degrees.
Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Mawson, of Police Scotland, said a new youth volunteer project would be launched.
A savings plan published by Police Scotland reveals that the cadet scheme will be scrapped in the new financial year, to save £161,000 a year.
Mr McKerracher said: “I am disappointed the Scottish Police service does not feel it has a responsibility to offer young people job opportunities.
“The fact they will no longer invest in the lives of promising young people to save a very modest amount saddens me.
“I have always championed the scheme and reintroduced it to Grampian in 2004. I was concerned that the average age of new recruits at that time was 29. We needed young people with fresh ideas who 13-year-old petty criminals could relate to.”