Young police recruits may no longer want ‘forever career’, says senior officer

A senior Police Scotland officer has said young recruits to the force may no longer be in it for a “forever career”.

A meeting of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) was told on Thursday that the force recently welcomed 129 probationers, with around one in 10 applicants taken on.

Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said that previously the force would recruit around half of applicants, however this figure is now around 10%.

He said younger applicants may not be looking for a lifetime career when they sign up.

“The standard has not moved in recruitment,” he said. “For every 300 applicants we would recruit about 140. Right now our selection is about 1/9 or 1/10.

“What I do find impressive is the range of diversification in terms of life experience, skills, occupations they have held is incredible.

“With younger recruits they are not necessarily joining policing for the rest of their life, they might not see policing as a forever career.

“We are making sure we have exit interviews and understand the reasons people are choosing to leave.”

The meeting also heard that two weeks ago, Police Scotland began a rollout of providing all officers with a Mental Health Index in a bid to help vulnerable people access appropriate support, and also to reduce pressure on police resources and A&E departments.

The rollout followed a successful pilot in Lanarkshire, which reduced potential police attendance at hospital by around 80%, the SPA was told.

Reducing pressure from mental health is part of Chief Constable Jo Farrell’s “vision for policing” and an area of “system-wide change”, the meeting heard.

Ms Farrell said: “We have now made Mental Health Index available for all officers on their devices, to ensure a person does not have to be conveyed to emergency department unless this is the most appropriate place.

“Lanarkshire have allowed patients to be triaged over the phone or access mental health assessment within an hour, with potential officer attendance reduced by 80%.”

Mr Speirs added: “This now provides officers at the point of engagement with vulnerable people to access guidance.

“We are two weeks into rollout. The early feedback we’re receiving is really positive. The aim is to prevent requirement to head to A&E.”

SPA chairman Martyn Evans said: “We are interested in improved service to people with mental health, not just officer efficiency.”

Ms Farrell responded: “I say on a regular basis that we should never turn our back on an individual.”