A POLITICAL debate over community policing has emerged after figures revealed a sharp fall in the number of local officers across Glasgow. Scottish Labour has accused the SNP of “gutting community policing”, claiming the fall in local officer numbers shows a wider shift away from policing in communities. “SNP cuts have gutted community policing and allowed crime rates to climb.” © 2026 Martin McAdamAcross Scotland, local police officer numbers have fallen by 894 since 2017, according to the figures. The data covers police officer numbers from the first quarter of 2017 to the second quarter of 2026.