Police force is 'on its knees'

Fears for communities amid lunging officer numbers

- MARCELLO MEGA

THE body representing Scotland's police officers has warned budget cuts have left the national force "on its knees" with officer numbers set to plunge to a record low.

David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, says retirals will see officer numbers fall below 16,000 by next April.

Police Scotland's own projection puts the figure closer to 16,200 but this would still be more than 1000 short of the minimum strength of 17,234 the SNP said would be maintained while it governed.

The federation will highlight this and several other key issues at a fringe event at the SNP conference this week.