POLICE officer numbers in Ayrshire have dropped by nearly eight per cent since the creation of Police Scotland, according to a freedom of information request by Labour MSP Katy Clark.
As of June 30 this year, only 787 officers were serving across the county, a sharp decline from the 854 recorded on March 31, 2015.
Ms Clark said the reduction was part of a wider trend, with Scotland’s total police force shrinking by 1,200 officers in the past four years, leaving just 16,200 officers nationwide.
The West Scotland MSP raised serious concerns about the impact of the decline on public safety.
However, a spokesperson for the Scottish Government countered that Police Scotland would take on more recruits this year than at any time since 2013.
Ms Clark said: “Local police stations are closing, and people are calling for more officers on the streets, not fewer.
"In some areas, communities can go days or even weeks without seeing any police presence.
"Communities are left waiting too long for help, and minor crimes often go unaddressed.
“The evidence clearly shows a need to reassess police staffing levels and resources to ensure our communities receive the support they deserve.
"This continued drop in police numbers is deeply affecting Ayrshire and beyond.”
Ms Clark warned that the erosion of police visibility is also leading to a breakdown in public trust, and said: “As police numbers dwindle, public safety concerns grow, with fears of rising crime and a decline in community confidence in law enforcement.
“Residents are increasingly reporting that crimes are being underreported or not addressed due to the lack of officers on the ground.”
She added: “Budget cuts and resource constraints are further compounding this issue, making it harder to maintain adequate staffing levels and cover essential policing functions.”
Ms Clark called for urgent action and added: “We need increased investment in police recruitment and retention, alongside a thorough reassessment of resource allocation, to ensure every community in Ayrshire - and across Scotland - receives the protection and support it needs.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Record police funding of £1.55 billion this year – an increase of £92.7 million – means Police Scotland will take on more recruits this year than at any time since 2013.
"Police Scotland indicated that there were around 16,400 officers at the beginning of August, with more than 690 new officers recruited since March.
“Scotland continues to have more police officers per capita than England and Wales and this continues to be a safe place to live, with recorded crime at one of the lowest levels since 1974 and down 40 per cent since 2006-07.”
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