![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_Chief-Constable-of-Police-Scotland-Jo-Farrell.jpg\")
Chief Constable of Police Scotland Jo Farrell(Image: PA)<\/p>\nFigures released under Freedom of Information show that over a five year period Police Scotland incurred almost \u00a313million in overtime costs for officers cited for court on days off or annual leave.Chief Constable of Police Scotland Jo Farrell(Image: PA)<\/p>\n
Cash strapped Police Scotland <\/a>have paid out almost \u00a313 million in overtime costs over the last five years for cops cited for court – even though 85 percent are never called to give evidence.<\/p>\n Shock figures released under Freedom of Information<\/a> show that the total costs for police witnesses between the financial years 2020\/2021 and 2024\/2025 was \u00a312,856,013. Of that total \u00a39,071,020 was spent paying officers to attend court while on annual leave.<\/p>\n In many instances cops are being called to give evidence several times in the same case, thus creating multiple overtime claims. Often they turn up court to discover the accused has pled guilty or the case adjourned.<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n All you have to do is click here if you’re on mobile<\/strong><\/a>, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in!<\/p>\n If you’re on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click ‘Join Community’.<\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n Scottish Labour Justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill<\/a> said \u201cThese are huge sums of money at a time when policing is stretched to breaking point.<\/p>\n “Despite knowing this remains a very serious problem there is no sign the Scottish Government is actually doing much about it.<\/p>\n “Our courts system is in chaos and this is just one example of the knock-on effects this has on our entire justice system.<\/p>\n “Too often police officers find themselves hanging around for hours or even days waiting to give evidence in court instead of being out on the streets keeping communities safe.<\/p>\n “The SNP must work with the Courts and Police Scotland to ensure things are running smoothly and officers\u2019 time is being used well.\u201d<\/p>\n Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP<\/a> added: “Attending court to give evidence is an important duty of any police officer, but the cost of overtime and pressure on officers stretch well beyond these court appearances.<\/p>\n “We are seeing rocketing bills for overtime across all aspects of police work. It comes against the backdrop of falling officer numbers, the closure of police counters and officers being run ragged.”<\/p>\n David Kennedy, General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation<\/a>, said: “Officers are continually called out on days off and annual leave to give evidence in court. More needs to be done to stop this happening.<\/p>\n “Officers should not be cited on annual leave particularly when there is an 85 percent chance they will not be needed.<\/p>\n “Police officers don’t have a choice. If they are cited to attend they have to attend.”<\/p>\n In the last five years the police were served with 1.4 million court citations<\/a>. Of that total 735,888 were recitations were officers were being called for a second time or more to give evidence.<\/p>\n During that same period 19,841 cops had to attend court during their holidays with an average overtime cost of \u00a3457 per officer.<\/p>\n In October Chief Constable Jo Farrell <\/a>told MSP’s that the demands of court attendance was placing a strain on officers\u2019 family lives as well as costly overtime payments.<\/p>\n Appearing before Holyrood\u2019s Criminal Justice Committee she revealed that up to 500 officers are taken away from their duties every day to appear in court with only 15 per cent of officers giving evidence.<\/p>\n She added \u201cThe demands by the criminal justice system is one of the largest elements that saps away the capacity of policing in Scotland.”<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758265156_494_0_WACOMMUNITYQR3.jpg\")
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Scottish Labour Justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_Scottish-Daily-Politics-2025.jpg\")
Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_18-08-25_POLICE_12JPG.jpg\")
David Kennedy, General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation.(Image: Tony Nicoletti\/Daily Record)<\/p>\n