For immediate release

MSP: POLICE NUMBERS RISE UNDER THE SNP 

Rutherglen Constituency MSP, Clare Haughey has welcomed news that the number of Police Officers in Scotland increased to over 16,500 by the end of 2024, saying that the SNP is making a positive difference to policing in Rutherglen and Cambuslang, and across Scotland.  

Figures released recently by Scotland’s Chief Statistician show that the number of full-time equivalent officers to over 16,508 by the end of 2024.

Ms Haughey says that the SNP Scottish Government has a strong record on improving policing and making communities safer since coming to power – with recorded crime down by 40% since 2006-7. 

She added that under the SNP, Scotland has more Police Officers per head than England, at 30 and 24 full-time equivalent officers per 10,000 people respectively.

In addition, the recent Scottish Budget has allocated an additional £57 million of resource funding for Police Scotland, underlining the Scottish Government’s continuing strong commitment to public safety. 

Commenting, Clare Haughey said:  

“I welcome these statistics, which show that the number of Police Officers in Scotland is higher than it was at the same time the year before – this will have a positive impact here in Rutherglen and Cambuslang.   

“The SNP has a proud record on improving policing and making our communities safer – recorded crime is down by 40% since the SNP came to power, we have the highest number of police officers anywhere in the UK.

“But we won’t stop there – people in Rutherglen and Cambuslang deserve to know that police services are improving – which is why we’ve allocated an additional £57 million in additional resource funding for Police Scotland in this year’s Scottish Budget.”

ENDS