Over 900 eligible to retire from Police Scotland next year

of June 30 this year, Police Scotland had 16,427 full-time equivalent officers.

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However, data released under Freedom of Information to the magazine 1919, showed that 914 officers are eligible to retire by the end of June 2026.

David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said it was inevitable that “exhausted” officers would opt to leave.

He added: “People don’t see the service as what it was. That’s the reality.

“In a different climate, you might see

'If they felt happy they might stay but they are not going to'

people who are eligible for retirement who don’t want to leave the force because they don’t have to.

“If they felt happy in their job, I think they might stay but they are not going to.”

Mr Kennedy went on: “That’s why they’re leaving — because they're exhausted.

“What that does is put further pressure on the

service, so Police Scotland needs to up its recruitment.

“But you're also losing vast experience — that’s the big issue.