News focus: The thin blue line is being stretched but reinforcements are on the way. At today's passing-out parade at the Scottish Police College, there will be a record 192 probationers jostling for space in the parade square with their proud families.

The thin blue line is being stretched but reinforcements are on the way.

At today's passing-out parade at the Scottish Police College, there will be a record 192 probationers jostling for space in the parade square with their proud families.

Staff readily admit the college in Tulliallan is bursting at the seams. Probationers who once would have had a room of their own are now sharing with one or two others.

Looking around the rooms, it is difficult not to be reminded of Scotland's overcrowded prisons estate, where inmates are doubled up in single cells.

It comes against the background of deepening concern over police staffing levels.

Following last year's prolonged debates about exactly how many new police officers had been promised by the SNP's election manifesto of May 2007, the Scottish Government conceded that 1000 new officers really did mean 1000.

Scotland's eight forces and the Police Federation seemed delighted by the news, with any additional resources welcome.

However, while the semantics of the argument took centre stage in Holyrood, the politicians paid little heed to the practicalities of how to recruit and train 1000 additional officers while record numbers are retiring.

Last year, some 628 new recruits went through the 15-week training course at the Scottish police college at Tulliallan.

This year the total is expected to be 1630. Estimates for 2009-10 already put the tally at 1400.

At the Scottish Police College, staff explain that on some days there is not enough water for everyone to have a hot shower and meals have had to be split into three shifts to fit everyone into the dining hall.

"It is quite an undertaking, particularly in terms of bedroom capacity, showering and catering," explains John Geates, director of the college. "We have had to try to put a rota in place for almost everything to try to manage the numbers.

"Some are now sharing three to a room. We had to do that in conjunction with the federation and health and safety and we had to get all of the staff on board.

"It is working because there is a great can-do' mentality here."

The question remains as to whether the Scottish Government will be able to boost total police numbers by the much-promised 1000 by 2011.

Numbers totalled 16,266 in May 2007 but the demands of spiralling pension costs on force budgets, practicalities and the sheer quantity of retirals will make it difficult.

And, although opposition politicians may claim to have won the argument, the impact of their words remains to be proven.

Unless the 580 probationers currently going through different stages of their training here receive the same world-renowned teaching and experience as their predecessors, it could prove an empty victory.

The retirement bulge caused by the so-called Edmund Davies effect - named for the man responsible for improving pay and conditions and therefore a huge wave of recruitment more than 30 years ago - has added to the pressure.

Forces have been battling shortfalls because the high number of officers hired during that period of the 1970s are all now reaching the end of their working lives.

Officials predicted that some 7500 officers would retire between 2004 and 2011 - more than half of the country's officers.

After serving 30 years, many will be only in their late 40s or early 50s.

In addition, the college is trying to train up the 1000 officers promised by ministers.

Much of the practical answer to coping with the recruitment drive lies in the attitude and versatility of both staff and students at Tulliallan.

While all the probationers are still housed at the college, those on other specialist courses have been placed in a range of alternative accommodation including local hotels, the naval base at Rosyth and at Strathclyde's police training college at Jackton.

Temporary portable buildings have been lowered into place to provide additional classroom spaces, but the numbers are taking their toll not just in demand on bed spaces and classrooms but also on catering.

The college now goes through some 600kg of chips per week - almost double last year's consumption.

Maintaining quality has remained key to the training regime and to date staff say that has been achieved, but warn that it is not feasible over a longer period.

"We are absorbing this at the moment but it is not sustainable," says Detective Superintendent Rob McLaren, head of the crime management courses.

"We are just working to keep the bucket topped up. With 2800 officers retiring we have that many places to backfill plus the 1000 extra promised by ministers.

"Originally we were told we would have to find somewhere else to deliver all our courses.

"Out of 51 courses we have relocated 26. We have had to cancel or postpone eight courses. Surveillance courses have moved to Jackton with some community safety training.

"We had a four-week course on detective training moved to HMS Caledonia at Rosyth.

"This week there is a CCTV course going to the prison service training centre at Polmont.

"While you may not think CCTV is particularly important, it is - especially if you think ahead to events like the Commonwealth Games."

After the Second World War there were calls for police training to be centralised, and in response the 19th-century castle of Tulliallan, in Kincardine, Fife, was bought for £9100 in 1950.

Since then, its reputation has flourished and the range of courses on offer has expanded beyond all the initial expectations.

Not only does it train all of Scotland's new recruits, but it also provides specialist training and updated materials for those going through the ranks, and trains officers from a range of foreign countries.

"Crime management training has increased between 200 and 300% with courses on sex offenders, detective training, crime scene management, leadership courses, and analytical work," explains Mr Geates.

"Legislation dictates that we have to train people and changes to the law mean changes to the training.

"Ten years ago we didn't even have a sex offenders register.

"In the past month we have had officers from Hong Kong, Australia and Holland here for training and we have just signed a three-year contract with Rwanda to train their police."

The college's motto "bi glic-bi glic", representing the cry of the Oystercatchers on its crest, translated from Gaelic means "Be wise - be circumspect".

It is a slogan that new recruits are encouraged to follow, but ministers too would do well to bear it in mind when making promises.

Entrance exam will soon be a thing of the past

ASPIRING police officers will no longer have to pass the standard entrance exam to secure an interview, under a radical new recruitment procedure being developed by Scottish forces.

Traditionally, all those wishing to join the police had to pass the exam and the requisite medical and fitness testing before they could be even considered for interview.

Starting this year, those wishing to join will be able to undertake a one-year access course designed to teach them about Scottish policing.

The course, which will be run as a Higher National programme, will teach potential recruits about Scots law, report writing, the role of the police, the requisite fitness levels for an officers and current affairs.

The qualification, which is still being finalised, would be aimed at those aged 17 and older and will be run at a number of colleges, including Adam Smith College in Fife, with whom the course has been developed.

Officers hope the access course will encourage a broader spectrum of the community to find out more about the police and apply. The aim is also to encourage more people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.

The qualification is part of a growing movement to professionalise the police.

Rory McIntryre, of the training and development unit at the Scottish police college, said: "We are tapping into the wider market for those who did not look at policing as a career in the first place.

"From the college's perspective we hope it will give us people with a better working knowledge of what policing is all about to ensure their basic training is even better.

"The course does not guarantee them a place but does get them an interview."

Recruitment is currently conducted by individual forces but the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland is understood to have approved the course.

The police college is part of the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA), the body set up in April 2007 which brought together services in forensics, IT and procurement for Scotland's eight police forces.

John Geates, director of the police college, said: "We have set up open days for those from BME (black and minority ethnic) backgrounds to bring their whole family to look around the college and show them how the training works."