Despair of Scotland’s cops, laid bare in scathing exit interviews

• Officers leaving Police Scotland cited a lack of support from bosses, welfare issues and misogyny as reasons for their decisions
•  Scottish Police Federation chairman David Threadgold warns force faces ‘incessant demand against a backdrop of falling numbers’

Scotland’s police officers are quitting in their droves amid heavy workloads and stress as the force faces a ‘perfect storm’ of recruitment and retention, exit interviews have found.

Those leaving Police Scotland told the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) about a lack of support from bosses and welfare issues.

According to the federation’s exit survey, those leaving said there was a ‘complete lack of any strategic leadership’ and a ‘do-more-with-less attitude’ among managers.

The shocking findings included claims crime was ‘written off because it is too difficult’, of misogyny within the ranks, and how officers felt career criminals were left ‘laughing’ at them.

David Threadgold, chairman of the SPF, warned of a ‘perfect storm’ emerging within the force.

He said: ‘Constant disruption to days off and annual leave, incessant demand against a backdrop of falling numbers, lack of appropriate training, and a feeling that the welfare of police officers across Scotland is merely words on a piece of paper rather than action, are real issues and creating a perfect storm in terms of officer recruitment, retention and job satisfaction within policing in Scotland.’

Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay said: ‘There appears to be a gulf between Police Scotland’s frequent public statements about staff welfare and the reality as expressed by former officers.’

As part of the exit survey, published by 1919 Magazine today, one female inspector spoke of sexism and misogyny.

A former sergeant criticised the ‘extremely poor service’ they were offering the public, saying: ‘Policing is on its knees and nothing seems to be getting done.’

Between October and April 546 officers left, with 253 responding to their survey.

One detective said: ‘Crime is written off because it is too difficult; an OCG [organised crime group] could not do a better job at protecting criminals.’

Another officer said ‘career criminals are laughing at us’, while others blamed ‘ridiculous’ and ‘horrendous’ staff and resource levels.

The Scottish Government said: ‘While the recruitment and deployment of officers are matters for the Chief Constable, the record budget settlement has enabled her to restart recruitment and retain police numbers of around 16,500 or 16,600, reducing unnecessary demand on frontline officers and staff.’

Deputy Chief Constable Alan Spiers said: ‘The Chief Constable has prioritised the health and wellbeing of our officers and staff, whose feedback was integral in agreeing a £17million investment in enhanced welfare provisions.

‘These include a new 24/7 employee assistance programme, direct access to occupational health services and a greater focus on mental health.’