The number of police forced off the frontline to work in office jobs has rocketed in the past four years. Known as modified or restricted duties, officers employed on these reduced roles now account for more than 12 per cent of the 16,600 workforce.

The revelations follow a warning last month from Scotland’s new police boss that the thin blue line is being stretched to the limit.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell claimed that without further Scottish Government funding of £128million, officer numbers could fall by a further 1500.

Now figures obtained by the Sunday Mail show a total of 2078 police officers on modified duties, up 50 per cent on 2019. The Freedom of Information request revealed the number of officers in this category had risen from 1403 that year.

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