Police Scotland has spent a ‘mind-boggling’ £8million on contingency plans for Brexit including preparations for potential civil unrest.
According to a report due to go before the Scottish Police Authority board at its meeting on Tuesday, £8,053,218 had been spent by the force up to September 9 on Brexit planning.
The work undertaken by Police Scotland has been split into two groups, Brexit contingency planning and the Brexit delivery team.
Contingency planning is dedicated to preparing for potential civil unrest after Brexit and the delivery team are focused on ensuring international co-operation continues when the UK leaves the European Union.
According to the report, force reserves have been deployed across Scotland since August in preparation for Brexit.
They have also been aiding officers at a number of pre-planned events such as football games and protests, as well as undertaking patrols across the country.
Officers have also visited counterparts in Portugal to improve relationships between the two forces.
More visits of this nature have been planned, with the report describing them as "vital to achieve a framework for international liaison upon EU exit".
The Scottish Lib Dems say that the Brexit preparations have placed further strain on an already ‘stretched’ police force.
Liam McArthur, the party's justice spokesperson, said: “This is a mind-boggling sum.
"We know the pressure that Police Scotland are already under and how stretched they are.
"Not only will Brexit make us less safe if we lose access to international crime-fighting resources, it is costing our police service dearly.
"The UK Government need to ensure that none of our public services are missing out as a result of the catastrophic Brexit process."
