Police in Moray are being “pushed to the limit” amid claims that staff shortages have left some stations without any cover.
The constabulary’s “alarming” personnel levels were highlighted when just two officers were left to deal with a huge fracas in the centre of Elgin on Saturday night.
Highlands and Islands MSP, Douglas Ross, has demanded that more officers are directed to Moray.
But area commander, Chief Inspector Stewart Mackie, maintained that the region has ample cover and said improving detection rates stood testament to that.
The revelations about the region’s police resources came during a meeting of Elgin Community Council.
Constable Leanne Jewison attended the gathering to brief members on the town’s crime figures.
She claimed that only four officers were present in Elgin to cover a late shift on Saturday, and that two of those were dealing with an arrest at the town’s station when “a big fight kicked off in the High Street”.
Constable Jewison said: “They were outnumbered for a minute there and it was pretty scary, it seems to be getting that way a lot of the time.
“They don’t seem to be replacing people when they leave.
“A lot of the public don’t realise how short-staffed we are, we are being pushed to the limit.”
It also emerged that, in the event of a major incident, Moray police chiefs would be forced to call in personnel from Aberdeen or Inverness.
And Constable Jewison revealed that “a lot of the time” there was no police presence at the station in Rothes.
She added that probationary officers were joining the local force “in dribs and drabs”, but that Moray stations relied on staff from quieter patches to bolster their numbers.
The chairman of Elgin Community Council, Alistair Kennedy, suggested that Police Scotland favoured the central belt when it came to deploying additional officers.
Highlands and Islands MSP Douglas Ross said police bosses needed to act to resolve the “alarming” predicament.
Mr Ross, who is the Scottish Government’s shadow cabinet secretary for justice, said: “These examples are alarming, and the fact that additional resources could be over an hour away in the event of a major incident will do nothing to reassure local people.
“We also have to consider the safety of our local officers dealing with calls while under-resourced.
“This is an issue we must get answers on, this could lead to serious problems in Moray.”
Ch Insp Mackie moved to downplay any fears over the region’s staffing levels.
He said: “Like any other emergency service, there are times when our resources are stretched and officers can be under some degree of pressure.
“But that isn’t the norm, and in recent times we have been very successful with recruitment.
“We are able to manage the incidents that we have, and our crime figures and detection rates reflect that.”
The area commander also insisted that “significantly” more than four officers were available to deal with incidents in Elgin on Saturday.
He added that it was common for emergency services to call on additional resources from outwith the local area when handling major incidents.
Ch Insp Mackie added: “The ability to draw on personnel from other parts of the North East division is one of the strengths of Police Scotland.”
And he explained that the Rothes station falls under the auspices of the Forres and Speyside Community Policing Team, and that there were “no occasions” where that group as a whole goes without staff.
Moray constable bemoans staff shortages
