Scotland’s struggling police service shelled out more than £500,000 in the last three years to battle the scourge of rats and other pests.
The extraordinary bill comes as hundreds of Scottish police stations are in dire need of upgrading.
New research from the Scottish Conservatives shows that spending on pest control by Police Scotland has increased every year since 2022.
In 2024 alone, stations called in pest control to battle infestations of rats, bed bugs, maggots, fleas, flies, and ants.
Between 2022 and 2024, Govan Police Station ranked among the top five in Scotland for pest control costs, spending over £13,000 to tackle issues with rats, ants, and birds.
In a similar situation, Newton House Station in Ayr spent over £12,000 on eliminating rats, ants, and birds, joining the list of high spenders despite opening in 2023 to take over from the old King Street Station.
Liam Kerr MSP, the Scottish Conservative justice spokesman, remarked: ‘It’s shocking that dedicated police officers and staff have to endure such poor working conditions in aging buildings plagued by rats and insects.’
Pests such as rats, ants, and birds have had to be removed from Scottish police stations
Scottish Tory, Liam Kerr MSP, said the SNP had treated the police with ‘shameful neglect’
‘These shocking figures are just the latest example of the SNP’s shameful neglect of Police Scotland and its estate.
‘The SNP has ignored repeated warnings about the deteriorating state of Scotland’s police facilities, leaving officers and staff to bear the repercussions,’ he added.
‘The job of a police officer is hard enough – the least they deserve is to be able to return to a facility which is safe and clean.
‘The escalating expenditure on pest control is a stark warning for the SNP about the true effects of their severe cuts. It’s crucial they commit to securing funds to bring the police workplaces up to modern standards.’
It comes as 183 police stations require repairs in Scotland as of mid-July. Additionally, 177 have asbestos.
In 2023 it emerged a number of police buildings had been built with collapse-prone concrete.
The cost of removing it from Police Scotland’s Fettes building, in Edinburgh, was estimated at a massive £4million.
Meanwhile a total of 140 police stations and almost 100 police counters closed between 2013 and 2023.
In March, the chair of the Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, warned Ministers of ‘policing deserts’ in some areas.
David Threadgold highlighted that station closures and pressure on current officers have led to ‘an almost invisible policing presence, resulting in a purely reactive service.’
Latest pest control figures show that Police Scotland spent £533,675.57 on pest control in police stations between January 2022 and July 2025.
The costs increased year on year from £134,399.60 in 2022, to £149,389.14 in 2023, to £163,073.72 in 2024. Already this year, £86,813.11 has been spent.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: ‘Necessary repairs and investment have been made over the years to ensure our buildings have met health and safety requirements.
‘As part of our estates masterplan we are undertaking a 10-year programme to create a modern, fit for purpose estate. The masterplan will make long term tangible improvements to our estate for the benefit of our officers, staff and communities.’
