The number of special constables in the north-east has fallen by more than a third in the last four years, according to new figures.
The special constabulary is a part-time, volunteer body consisting of officers with similar powers to fully-trained PCs.
There are now 87 officers in Police Scotland’s north-east division, which largely covers the footprint of the former Grampian regional force.
In 2014, however, there were 125 – meaning there are now 36 fewer special constables.
But yesterday, north-east division, known in Police Scotland as A Division, responded that much of the change was due to special constables becoming full time officers and that they had the highest number of part-time police in the country.
Across Scotland, there are now about half the number of special constables that there were five years ago.
Conservative MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Alexander Burnett, said: “Special constables have played an important role in local policing for many years now, and it is unfortunate to see numbers dropping to such an extent.
“The closure of many local police offices and the lack of visible bobbies on the beat has led to a feeling that community policing is being eroded.
“The SNP government is ultimately responsible for policing in Scotland and must explain why we are seeing such a huge decline – both in the north-east and across Scotland – in the number of special constables.”
However, north-east division’s Superintendent Richard Craig responded: “Here in the north-east, we have 87 active special constables, the highest number of any division in Scotland.
“We are extremely proud and grateful for the valuable contribution they regularly make to policing in our area.
“In the last few years, a number of special constables have left to join as regular constables which highlights that they have enjoyed the experience of volunteering as a special constable so much, they have opted to join us full time.
“We are eager to to increase our complement of special constables by 2019.
“Anyone interested in joining as a special constable can find out more on the Police Scotland website.”
A Scottish Government spokesman added: “Recruitment of special constables is an operational matter for the Chief Constable.
“The Policing 2026 Strategy aims to ensure the right skills mix to meet future demands, with officers freed up from support work to increase the number available for frontline policing.”
