The force said without extra Scottish Government funding it is forced to absorb the costs with knock-on effects on budgets and staffing.
Police Scotland officers(Image: Getty Images)
Police Scotland has warned spiralling costs of public inquiries are hampering the fight against crime after their bill ballooned to £27million.
The force said without extra Scottish Government funding it is forced to absorb the costs with knock-on effects on budgets and staffing.
That means fewer officers on the front line, crime prevention cutbacks and reduced capacity to tackle emerging threats.
Figures show millions of pounds worth of officer time has been diverted into national inquiries, leaving fewer cops on the streets.
The inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh after being restrained by officers in Kirkcaldy in 2015 has cost the force £25.6million so far.
Data shows £18.3million racked up in legal fees, with £5.4million on officer time and £1.7million on staffing costs.
Scots Tory spokesperson Sharon Dowey MSP said: “Years of SNP cuts have already stretched policing to breaking point, so it’s unacceptable that Police Scotland is having to absorb huge inquiry costs at a time when they are unable to investigate certain crimes.”
Police Scotland said it fully supports public inquiries but added that the diversion of resources has implications for local communities and policing outcomes.
A force report says: “Police Scotland recognises that the ‘considerable’ costs associated with inquiries require tough, prioritised budget decisions, often at the expense of local policing and crime-focused activity.”
Sheku Bayoh died in the incident in 2015. (Image: PA)
According to a force report, in 2020-21 – the Bayoh inquiry was announced in November 2020 – “police officer costs” were £444,834.
In subsequent years, the sums were £971,985, £1,275,174, £1,377,667 and £1,346,682 between 2021-22 and 2024-25. Costs fell in 2025-26 to £36,316 after the inquiry was paused when chair Lord Bracadale resigned over claims about impartiality.
Other inquiries, including Covid-19, Scottish Hospitals Safety and Scottish Child Abuse, added another £1.5million to Police costs between April 2025 and January this year.
It means the force’s overall cost for inquiries exceeds £27.15million.
There have been 11 Scottish public inquiries – six of which are still active – since the SNP took power in 2007, said to have cost the taxpayer £258.8million at 2024-25 prices.