Concerns over police superintendents' health

Police superintendents’ health and wellbeing is being put at risk amid a “bullying culture” within the single service and the SNP’s flagship commitment on officer numbers, it will be claimed today.

Chief Superintendent Niven Rennie, president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, will use the body’s annual conference to reiterate concerns over the workload his members are facing.

According to the third annual survey of members, 37 per cent believe there is bullying from the chief officer team towards superintendents and lower, while 85 per cent believe that there are cliques and in crowds within Police Scotland.

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Speaking ahead of the conference, Rennie said: “The issues of greatest concern to our members remain their workload and its effect on their health.

“The survey reinforces previous claims that our members, the senior operational leaders of the Police Service of Scotland, continue to express their belief that a bullying culture exists within the service and that ‘cliques’ and ‘in crowds’ are also in evidence.

“The most recent results suggest that there are cultural issues evident within the service which require to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

Rennie said it is important that a wellbeing group established by the force to address issues raised in ASPS surveys reports “as soon as possible and sufficient cognisance is taken of what they’re saying”.

He will also reiterate warnings that the Scottish Government’s commitment to maintain 1,000 extra officers, while welcome, is unsustainable given Police Scotland’s shrinking budget. 

Superintendent numbers have dropped by around a quarter since Police Scotland came into being with the burden on those who are left having an “adverse effect on their health and wellbeing”, added Rennie.

“17,234 comes with a price tag,” he said. “You cannot retain numbers and strip out everything else – it just doesn’t make sense.

“With a reduction in numbers and the removal of back office support, my members are paying that price in the hours they are working and the demand they meet.”

Sir Stephen House, chief constable of Police Scotland, and Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, are both set to speak at the event at Tulliallan.

Police Scotland deputy chief constable Neil Richardson said: “The welfare and wellbeing of all those who work for Police Scotland are hugely important to us, which is exactly why we are currently undertaking a service-wide survey of all personnel to measure the impact of the many changes which have taken place in policing in Scotland on all our officers and staff. 

“The feedback from that survey, and from the work undertaken by ASPS, will help shape and develop how the SPA and Police Scotland develop into the future.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Crime is Scotland is at a 40-year low, backed by 1000 extra officers provided by this Government, and Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Government are committed to maintaining this.

“Reform is ensuring policing can sustain frontline services and will deliver savings of £1.1bn over the next 15 years, largely by reducing the costs of duplication.”