THE number of police officers in Glasgow has dropped to the lowest level since records began, according to new figures.

The slump comes as a number of police roles are centralised, with Greater Glasgow’s G division experiencing a drop of 153 officers in the past five years.

Despite this, Police Scotland’s West region now employs 16 more officers than it did at the end of 2013.

Scottish Labour is warning that Police Scotland is not properly resourced and is experiencing a decline in proactive policing, putting public safety at risk.

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The party’s justice spokesperson Daniel Johnson MSP said: “Communities across Scotland are crying out for more police officers, but these figures reveal the scale of centralisation that has gone on since the formation of Police Scotland.

“The fact that these SNP cuts seem to have fallen particularly hard on major cities such as Glasgow is particularly troubling.

“The SNP should follow Labour’s lead and use the powers of the Scottish Parliament to invest in bolstering local police officers to keep people safe.”

Across Scotland, more than 200 officers have been taken out of divisions and moved into central police functions since 2013, with local services losing 326 officers.

Over the same period, regional police units have gained 79 officers, while the national police force has increased by 161 officers.

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A spokesperson for Humza Yousaf said:“It is hard to keep up with the ever-changing position of the Labour party on policing.

“In 2011 they supported the introduction of a single police force and their justice spokesperson backed the Policing 2026 strategy, both of which they are now attacking.

“Under the SNP, officer numbers will remain well above the level inherited from Labour. These officers are supported by the Scottish Government’s commitment to protecting the police resource budget.

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“We have also continued police reform funding for a further year, with an investment of £31 million planned to support the implementation of the Policing 2026 strategy.”

These latest figures come as a report revealed Mr Yousaf’s plans to scrap the proposed merger of Police Scotland and the British Transport Police. The move has been welcomed by trade union bosses who called the merger “unworkable”.