Policing the Unmanageable: Overtime Bill Soars to £85,000 Per Day
Scotland’s national police force is grappling with growing operational demands, plunging officer numbers, and a surging overtime bill that is raising alarm across political and public sectors alike.
New figures published in 1919 Magazine reveal Police Scotland paid out £28.15 million in officer overtime for the 2024/25 financial year, alongside £3.4 million for non-officer staff. That puts the daily overtime cost at £85,000, a figure that has sparked concern about sustainability, especially in light of rising national and international commitments.
Although the total has dropped from the spike seen in 2022/23 — when Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral triggered one of the largest policing operations in UK history — this year’s figure still reflects a 10% rise on 2023/24, prompting renewed scrutiny.
“Not Enough Officers”
David Kennedy, General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, blamed the rise on staffing shortages and increased duties. “As demand on policing continues to increase — whether through major events, public safety operations, or everyday calls for service — there simply are not enough officers to meet the workload within normal working hours,” he said.
Events like Donald Trump’s recent visit to Scotland, along with high-profile concerts including the sold-out Oasis reunion shows at Murrayfield Stadium, have stretched already-thin resources.
Meanwhile, Police Scotland remains under pressure to implement cost-saving measures while maintaining front-line effectiveness — a balancing act made increasingly difficult in a political climate focused on public sector reform and efficiency.
Seabird Crisis Looms Over Scotland’s Largest Wind Farm
Even as Scotland pushes forward with its climate commitments, one of the nation’s flagship renewable energy projects is facing fierce backlash from conservationists who say it threatens an ecological disaster.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Scotland has warned that the Berwick Bank offshore wind farm, recently approved by the Scottish Government, could spell an “extinction-level event” for some of the nation’s most treasured seabird populations.
Set to be built in the outer Firth of Forth, the 4.1GW fixed-bottom project is being touted as a keystone of Scotland’s net-zero ambitions. But RSPB Scotland argues that its scale and location intersect with key migratory and nesting habitats for protected species such as kittiwakes, puffins, and gannets.
“A Very Dark Day”
RSPB Scotland director Anne McCall did not mince words: “Berwick Bank would be catastrophic for Scotland’s globally important seabirds which are already facing alarming declines,” she said. “This one wind farm is going to make it really challenging to accelerate renewable projects across Scottish sea.”
Environmental campaigners say the cumulative impact of multiple offshore wind farms, paired with climate change and fishing pressure, could devastate bird colonies that have already seen numbers dwindle in recent decades.
While the Scottish Government has committed to “world-leading” environmental protections, conservation groups are demanding a pause and reassessment of offshore wind zoning policies.
The controversy comes as Scotland positions itself as a leader in green energy exports, with projects like Berwick Bank expected to support thousands of jobs and supply low-carbon power across the UK and Europe.
Heat Pumps, Not Gas: Renfrewshire’s Bold Social Housing Overhaul
While Scotland’s offshore wind policy comes under fire, one local authority is earning praise for a groundbreaking move toward clean, community-level heating.
Renfrewshire Council has unveiled plans for Scotland’s largest networked ground source heat pump system in social housing, targeting two high-rise blocks in Gallowhill, Paisley. The shift marks a fundamental change in how tenants will heat their homes, replacing outdated gas systems with a renewable energy solution that extracts warmth from underground.
The project, spearheaded by heat pump specialists Kensa, will equip each flat with a shoebox-sized heat pump unit, connected to a shared looped system beneath the buildings. The system is expected to dramatically reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency for tenants.
A First for Scotland
The rollout is the first of its scale in Scottish council housing, and follows extensive analysis of decarbonisation options. The project received £1.78 million in Scottish Government funding through the Scotland Heat Network Fund.
Renfrewshire’s Communities and Housing Policy Board chair Councillor Marie McGurk said the plan is about “making homes warmer, more efficient, and more affordable for residents.”
In addition to the retrofit, the broader regeneration of the Gallowhill area includes the construction of 65 new low-carbon council homes and a new active travel route connecting to the forthcoming Paisley Grammar School Community Campus.
Efficiency and Savings
Residents in the two high-rises will no longer pay gas standing charges. Instead, heating costs will be included in electricity bills — a move the council says simplifies budgeting and could save households money over time.
Kensa’s regional manager for Scotland, Mark Potter, hailed the project as a “landmark decarbonisation effort,” adding: “We’ll help residents stay warm and comfortable during winter, while keeping energy use and heating costs low.”
The system is expected to be fully operational by summer 2026.
Scotland at a Crossroads
The three developments — an overstretched police force, escalating environmental tensions, and pioneering local energy reform — underscore the contradictions and pressures shaping modern Scotland.
While bold innovation is evident in social housing and climate policy, the country continues to wrestle with fragile frontline services and competing priorities. The coming months will likely bring further debate over how to balance economic, ecological, and social imperatives — with decisions made now having generational consequences.
