The SNP has been accused of a “complete failure” to support Police Scotland as new figures reveal the overtime bill for officers and staff has soared to over £44 million.

Figures obtained by Scottish Labour show that overtime costs for police officers have increased from £28,150,447 in 2024/25 to £40,153,954 in 2025/26 – a rise of 42.6%, or over £12 million.

It works out as more than £110,000 being spent each day by Police Scotland to pick up the tab for overtime pay for officers.

With the £4,253,507 overtime bill for police staff, it brings the overall overtime spend to £44,407,460 for 2025/26 – a 42.3% increase on the £31,199,249 spent in 2024/25.

The figures emerged just months after the Scottish Police Federation warned that the Scottish Government’s Budget for 2026/27 falls “well below what is needed” by the force.

Commenting, Scottish Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: “It is clear there has been a complete failure by the SNP to properly support Police Scotland through years of neglect.

“Hardworking officers and staff should not have to keep going above and beyond simply to paper over the cracks of the SNP’s inability to properly resource the service.

“It is not fair for them to be consistently asked to sacrifice their rest days, family time, and personal health to plug gaps caused by years of underinvestment in policing.

“That the overtime bill has now soared to over £44 million is also not value for money for taxpayers, as that money could have gone towards investing properly in the police service in the first place.

“Neil Gray must urgently look at the funding available to Police Scotland and rule out any further damaging cuts to the service in the years ahead.”