Cause for concern over claim officers are discouraged from making arrests
With officers ‘encouraged not to arrest people’ and prisoners released earlier, reassurances on criminal justice are in order
The claim by the head of the Scottish Police Federation that officers are being “encouraged not to arrest people” is clearly cause for concern.
General Secretary David Kennedy said closures of police offices and stations mean there are fewer custody suites in which to house people.
His comments came in response to Chief Constable Jo Farrell’s annual report, in which she said there were 83,765 arrests where an accused was brought into a custody centre in 2025-26 – 15,451 fewer than the previous year.
Confidence in Scotland’s criminal justice system will be further damaged by Kennedy’s claim the public should “not necessarily” have “faith” in Police Scotland. “The organisation can’t cope,” he said. “We don’t have enough police officers.”
Police Scotland described Kennedy’s claim that officers are being discouraged from making arrests as “inaccurate”.
A spokesperson highlighted the force’s “proportionate” response to crime and the use of measures such as recorded warnings for less serious offences.
Nevertheless, the fact that the claim comes from the head of the organisation that represents rank and file officers is alarming.
And it comes just weeks after the Scottish government announced sweeping changes to the justice system that could see fewer criminals jailed and hundreds of prisoners released earlier.
With jails over capacity by around 800 inmates, Justice Secretary Neil Gray has proposed long-term prisoners could be released and serve the final third of their sentences in the community.
Other proposals include changing the definition of short-term prisoners, who are currently released after serving just 30 per cent of their sentences, or 50 per cent for sexual offenders, from four years to five years.
Ministers must guard against a public perception taking root that – despite assurances to the contrary – Scotland’s criminal justice system is creaking at the seams.
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