Across BBC TV News and the tabloids including The Sun, today, the above and:

FOUR out of every five cops are feeling stressed over workloads, a survey reveals today.

And more than three-quarters of them say they are too exhausted to perform their duties properly.

The rank-and-file Police Federation of England and Wales has declared a public health emergency in policing.

Acting deputy national chairman Paul Williams will today tell its annual conference in London: “Policing is a service making its people sick. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/40768891/public-health-emergency-policing-stress-exhaustion/

Nothing from BBC Scotland yet but how do the figures compare.

Do Scottish cops face as much crime overall?

In 2011-12 , in Scotland, there were 598 crimes and offences per 10 000 population with 121 murders, down from 142, when the SNP took over in 2007-08.¹

Today, from Recorded Crime in Scotland: year ending June 2026, we see the figure has climbed from a low of 525 in the pandemic to 583 per 10 000 last year but with 49 murders.²

The latest figures for England & Wales are 680 per 10 000 population and 522 murders.³

Sources:

1. https://www.gov.scot/publications/recorded-crime-scotland-2011-12/documents/
2. https://www.gov.scot/publications/recorded-crime-scotland-year-ending-june-2026/documents/
3. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crimeinenglandandwales/latest

So, 583 crimes per 10 000 in Scotland and 680 in England & Wales, ratios so directly comparable, Police officer in England and Wales face 17% more crime.

Do England & Wales have, at least, 17% more officers to deal with it?

No, Scotland has 23% more officers to deal with 17% fewer crimes.

Scotland has the highest ratio of police officers per 100 000 population – 295.

England and Wales forces have a lower combined ratio 235–241.

This means Scotland has 22.8% more officers per capita than the England/Wales average.

Sources:

1. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-30-september-2025/police-workforce-england-and-wales-30-september-2025
2. https://policepromotion.blog/2024/07/30/police-workforce-2024-part-1-officer-numbers-across-uk-and-ireland