'Concern' as 10k arrest warrants outstanding

SYSTEM CAN'T COPE: Says Police Federation chairman David Threadgold

- By Ben Borland

MORE than 10,000 arrest warrants are outstanding in Scotland, with many of the suspects at large wanted for serious offences such as murder, rape and drug dealing.

Police Scotland statistics show there were 10,064 outstanding warrants as of last month, including seven for murder, five for attempted murder and 40 for rape.

A further 100 warrants were issued for people wanted for assaulting a police officer, along with 605 linked to the supply or use of drugs.

Another 72 were for domestic abuse and 1,253 were for assault.

Some 193 warrants related to possession of an offensive weapon, as well as eight issued in connection with the possession or criminal use of a firearm.

Scottish Labour said the figures come at the same time as police numbers in Scotland were falling, down from just over 17,400 full-time equivalent officers in 2020 to 16,427 this year.