Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to protect Police Scotland’s budget in light of the country’s “security situation”.
In an early glimpse into the Scottish Government’s budget, which will be announced later this month, the First Minister promised to offer “real terms protection” for the force’s finances if she wins the election in May.
Her commitment came as Scotland’s most senior officer demanded the SNP review its pledge to maintain 1,000 extra police officers.
Ms Sturgeon said: “In two weeks’ time John Swinney will set our budget for next year and due to the content of the Chancellor’s spending review last week that is a budget that will involve difficult choices.
“However, given the security situation, I am confirming today that the police budget will be protected.
“We will increase the revenue budget of the Scottish Police Authority in real terms in order to deliver that protection.
“We will do so for next year and if we are re-elected we would intend to continue that real terms protection in every year of the next Parliament.”
Earlier yesterday, deputy chief constable Neil Richardson – a candidate to be the next head of the force following Sir Stephen House’s formal retirement – told Holyrood’s justice committee that the debate about Police Scotland’s future needs to move on from personnel numbers to finding an appropriate budget.
He warned police officers are “backfilling” jobs previously done by support staff as a result of the commitment – and said further staff cuts are expected.
The force is still struggling to bridge its £25million shortfall – equivalent to the cost of nearly 700 police officers – by the end of the financial year.
Mr Richardson said: “I absolutely want as much flexibility as I can. I think the debate is in the wrong place.
“The numbers part is less important than the money part, and I’m more interested in what settlement I can secure and from that how best to deliver the necessary policing services across Scotland.”
He added: “The issue about numbers has become quite unhelpful and sets in the minds of community members that the measure of success is how many police officers are permanently deployed.
“That is difficult when it is directly against the model that we are trying to deliver, which is if there is a need that need will be met.”
He said the Scottish Government’s comprehensive spending review “will undoubtedly drive another opportunity for us to determine what service we are required to deliver across Scotland, and therefore what mix of staff and officers we need”.