2700 Cops Not At Work

Rise in officers self-isolating means 16% of Scots force is off

- Marcello Mega

Nearly one in six police officers in Scotland were off work on Friday as the coronavirus crisis hit the force hard.

The Daily Record has learned that Police Scotland is having to cope without a record number of staff.

While some of the 2700 officers absent on Friday were on annual leave, the vast majority were self-isolating at home with Covid-19 symptoms. However, it is understood that only two officers had tested positive for the virus by the weekend.

At full strength, Police Scotland can deploy 17,254 officers, backed up by some 5600 civilian staff and more than 500 special constables.

That means almost 16 per cent of officers were off on Friday – at a time when they are having to help enforce the nationwide lockdown.

A well-placed source said last night: “This is a massive struggle but the feeling is that we are coping well with the help of the general public.

“The vast majority of people have responded very well to what is being asked of them.

“Another bonus is that crime is down – including domestic violence, which had been a concern. How do you keep a woman safe while isolated in her home with a violent partner?

“Fortunately, we haven’t seen any spike in that regard.”