Police Scotland revealed concerns the new Hate Crime Bill will create additional pressures and cited plans to tackle abuse within the force.

An agenda from a Scottish Police Authority (SPA) meeting due to take place on Thursday showed that a request for a £5 million windfall from the Scottish Government to boost the budget was no longer expected to be “fully required”.

The national force, established in 2013, has said it is “committed to encouraging female applicants” but faced a “drop” in the number of female recruits, and now plans to examine a potential link between flexible working and career progression, according to the minutes.

A meeting of the committee of the SPA “discussed the findings in relation to probationer training and the disconnect between senior and middle management on management style and behaviour”, it was noted.

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