Douglas Lumsden MSP has spoken out after new figures show that police officers in the North East have recorded almost 250 absences as a result of stress since 2020.
This has led to North East division officers taking 3414 days off work over the last two years. Along with this, police staff have recorded 29 absences with 459 days off work.
The high number of officers and staff off work due to the pressure they are being put under due to SNP mismanagement in Holyrood means that communities across the North East are at risk of not having adequate police coverage.
Douglas Lumsden spoke of the impact stress was having on police officers in the North East saying:
“Right now, Police Scotland are crying out for applicants.
“Part of that is because of the hugely increased workload and stress officers and staff are now under.
“The Scottish Police Federation have said people are getting turned off by the thought of a high-pressure career that's not really considered all that important by the Scottish Government.
“SNP justice secretary Keith Brown needs to give the police all the resources they need to end this recruitment crisis.”
With North East Scotland already an after thought for the SNP in Holyrood, this fresh crisis will put yet more people at risk.
