Police Scotland is facing a “significant” challenge because of the “colossal” number of officers who have been placed on restricted duties – often for medical reasons.
Chief Superintendent Rob Hay, president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (Asps) spoke out about the impact of the number of officers in this situation.
While Police Scotland had 16,402 full time equivalent officers at the end of June this year, there are 2,915 who are currently classed as being on modified duties.
Police Scotland HR director Caroline Carruthers told the Scottish Police Authority’s people committee that 39,078 working days had been lost to officer long-term absence in the first quarter of 2026-27.
Mr Hay meanwhile told the same committee that the number of officers on modified duties was now larger than 28 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales.
He added: “It’s actually a figure that’s 100 officers larger than the entirety of the British Transport Police.
“So these are colossal numbers we’re talking about here and a really significant challenge.”
Officers can be placed on modified duties as a result of illness or injury, with officers who are pregnant and those who need adjustments to take medication also falling into this category.
However, there are said to be 974 officers whose roles have been permanently adjusted, making them “non-deployable”, while 871 can only be deployed with restrictions.
The service has to have a plan to deal with the number of officers who are unable to provide 24/7 core policing functions
The number of officers who are on modified duties has risen from 2,373 in March 2025.
David Threadgold, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, told how the number of officers in the category was having an “operational impact”.
He told policing and justice publication 1919 Magazine: “The service has to have a plan to deal with the number of officers who are unable to provide 24/7 core policing functions.
“It’s particularly acute for operational policing. If you’re undeployable or your modification is that you can’t do nightshifts, then you can’t do 24/7 shifts.”
Mr Threadgold continued: “There will be some cases where officers on modified duties are able to carry out back-office functions effectively.
“But using warranted officers to provide administrative functions in the back office is not helping Police Scotland deliver for the communities in Scotland.”
He added that the high number of officers on modified duties was a “symptom of increased demand, reduced workforce and continued exposure to extended trauma”.
The SNP has already let police officer numbers plummet, and now it is failing to support the remaining officers
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police officers and staff do a difficult, at times dangerous, job and we have invested in improving the health and wellbeing support available to our people.
“Building a thriving workforce and maximising our capacity are important elements of supporting our front line and we’re increasing support for managers and supervisors around areas including attendance management, flexible working and modified duties.”
But Scottish Conservative justice spokesperson Stephen Kerr hit out, saying: “The first duty of government is to keep the public safe, and the SNP are failing to do this.
“Nearly 3,000 officers unable to carry out their full duties should be a wake-up call for the SNP.
“Any officer off work through illness or injury deserves the right support to recover and return to work where possible.
“But after 20 years of systematic SNP underfunding, Police Scotland has been stretched to the limit and is now struggling to maintain its capacity to keep people safe.”
The Tory demanded: “The next budget must properly support the force, restore officer numbers and put more officers on the frontline, before public safety is put further at risk.”
The Scottish Government is investing record funding of more than £1.7 billion for policing in 2026-27 and Scotland continues to have more police officers per capita than England and Wales
Liberal Democrats justice spokeswoman Yi-pei Chou Turvey said: “This is a staggering number of police officers who are unable to do their full job.”
The Lib Dem MSP added: “Many of these officers are struggling because of the spiralling demand on their time and the failure of the SNP Government to properly support them.”
Scottish Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said the “alarming figures show how much pressure policing in Scotland is under”.
She added: “The SNP has already let police officer numbers plummet, and now it is failing to support the remaining officers.”
Justice Secretary Neil Gray said “Scotland’s police officers and staff do an outstanding job, often in challenging circumstances”.
He added: “Health and wellbeing remain a priority for Police Scotland, with support available through their Employee Assistance and Your Wellbeing Matters programme.
“The Scottish Government is investing record funding of more than £1.7 billion for policing in 2026-27 and Scotland continues to have more police officers per capita than England and Wales.”