Hundreds of urgent 999 calls to Police Scotland are being routinely abandoned without officer response, according to alarming new statistics that reveal deepening concerns about public safety.
Emergency Calls Left Unanswered
Disturbing figures obtained through Freedom of Information requests show that over the past three years, police failed to attend more than 600 emergency incidents classified as requiring immediate response. Control room staff had previously assessed these calls as involving ongoing incidents or potential threats to life.
The data reveals a worrying pattern: 250 immediate-priority calls went unanswered in 2022/23, followed by 230 in 2023/24 and another 159 in the current 2024/25 period. These figures represent cases where no officers were dispatched despite the situations being coded as requiring urgent police intervention.
Police Resources Under Strain
The Scottish Conservatives, who uncovered the statistics, attribute the failures to significant reductions in police numbers. They highlight that Scotland now has almost 1,000 fewer officers than before the pandemic, with current strength at 16,441 compared to 17,431 in early 2020.
This reduction comes against a backdrop of rising crime concerns. The Crime and Justice Survey reported approximately 1,185,000 crimes in Scotland during 2023-24, with nearly 20% of adults experiencing at least one criminal offence.
Particularly alarming is the comparison with England and Wales, where violent crime affected 2.9% of Scottish adults compared to just 1.4% south of the border.
Political Fallout and Responses
Scottish Conservative victims and community safety spokeswoman Sharon Dowey MSP didn't mince words, stating: "These shocking figures demonstrate that public safety is being jeopardised by the SNP's sustained neglect of frontline policing."
She added: "At a time when one in five Scots is a victim of crime, the public will be appalled and alarmed that they are not guaranteed to see a police response even to an emergency call."
However, the Scottish Government defended its record, pointing to record investment of £1.64 billion for policing this year. A government spokesperson emphasised that Scotland maintains more police officers per capita than England and Wales.
Police Scotland responded by stating that 999 calls are always prioritised and suggesting that some non-attendance figures might include cases where police were no longer required or multiple calls about the same incident.
Despite these assurances, the statistics paint a concerning picture of emergency response capabilities being stretched to breaking point, leaving questions about whether current policing resources can adequately protect Scottish communities.
