POLICE officers are “run ragged” as pressures on the force have mounted, former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill has claimed.

Expecting officers to attend incidents such as “minor” vandalism cannot be justified as they must prioritise serious crime, he said.

Writing in a daily newspaper, he said that “some things can no longer be provided” and suggested private security firms could take over roles such as stewarding and cyber protection.

MacAskill, who was justice secretary from 2007 to 2014, said politicians and the public have to change their expectations about what the police will do.

He wrote: “Terrorism, cyber crime and historic sexual abuse now take up a large amount of police resources. No wonder response officers are run ragged and there are fewer community officers.”

He added: “These new pressures mean some things can no longer be provided. The priority has to be keeping people safe and investigating serious crime.

“Expecting an officer to attend incidents of minor vandalism where there are no witnesses can no longer be justified. An email acknowledgement for the insurance company will have to suffice.

“Private security has already taken over some aspects of policing and such services will also be needed in other areas, such as cyber protection or stewarding roles.”

He said mental illness was the biggest drain on police resources and suggested the NHS should “step up to the mark” except when there was a threat to safety.

MacAskill also said that Police Scotland, which was formally established in 2013, has been “blighted” by errors and suspensions almost from its inception. The police force is currently without some of its most senior staff, with the chief constable on “special leave’’ and one of his assistants suspended.

He also said the Scottish Government would not drop the commitment to maintaining officer numbers.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Police officer numbers are substantially higher than they were 10 years ago. The Policing 2026 programme will help ensure Scotland continues to benefit from a modern, responsive police service – increasing operational capacity and delivering the right mix of officers and staff to keep people safe and meet emerging challenges.”