More than 1 MILLION working days have been lost by Scottish police officers, almost a quarter of which are blamed on mental health problems

More than a million days of police officers’ work were lost, almost a quarter of which were due to “mental disorders” such as stress.

Startling figures from Police Scotland for the last four years show that since 2020, 1,020,930 days have been lost due to absence from work.

Of those, 239,507 days – about 23 percent – involved officers suffering from stress and mental health problems.

The statistics come at a time when police numbers are at their lowest since the SNP came to power.

Last night, Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said the absences were “astonishing”.

Nearly 240,000 police absences over four years were linked to officers suffering from stress and other mental problems

He added: “Dedicated officers are being forced to do their job with one hand tied behind their back due to brutal and ongoing cuts to the SNP.

“SNP ministers are completely disconnected from the pressures police officers face on a daily basis.”

The figures also highlight that between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, Police Scotland recorded 2,771 officers who were “unable to be seconded” for some period of the year.

During this period, the armed forces averaged around 16,401 officers, meaning that around 17 percent of them were at some point unfit for duty due to ill health or injury.

As of June 30 this year. There were 16,207 full-time police officers employed in the police – the lowest number in the SNP’s 17 years in power.

Last night, Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said that “the Chief Constable has prioritized the health and wellbeing of our officers and staff”, but David Threadgold, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said the “eye” watering statistics showed a “huge the toll of the poor health of officers.”

He added: “I don’t think this level of absenteeism is sustainable – and it’s obviously costing taxpayers many millions.”

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.