As has been made clear this week, following the UK chancellor’s July statement, the Scottish Government continues to face the most challenging financial situation since devolution. Despite the UK Government’s cuts to our budget, we have provided Police Scotland with record funding of £1.55 billion this year, which is an increase of £92.7 million; £75.7 million of that is for resource, which allows Police Scotland to increase its officer numbers.
Police Scotland indicated that there were about 16,400 officers at the beginning of August, and more than 680 new officers have been recruited since March. I am pleased to say that the police will take on more recruits this year than at any time since 2013.