The force paid £715,760 to law firms between 2021 and 2025 while defending 130 claims, including allegations of discrimination, unfair dismissal and harassment.

Spending reached a five-year high last year, when Police Scotland paid £215,138 in legal fees.

The figures come as the force has warned it faces a £48 million funding gap in 2026-27.

The largest payments over the five-year period went to Clyde & Co (£222,140), Morton Fraser (£182,630) and Ledingham Chalmers (£171,590).

David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said many cases could be resolved earlier through mediation rather than proceeding to full tribunal hearings.

He said: “We have spoken to Police Scotland on several occasions to say that these issues could be resolved through mediation at an early stage, but they are choosing not to mediate and going to a full tribunal.

“It is having a negative impact on police officers and a negative impact on the public purse.”

Mr Kennedy said the force’s grievance process could take up to nine months and argued that earlier resolution would reduce legal costs.

He added: “The vast majority of these cases do not settle for a lot of money. Instead, the people who make the money are the solicitors and the lawyers.

“They can be settled early and they can be resolved at an early point.”

Police Scotland has lost several high-profile Employment Tribunal cases in recent years. In 2024, it paid more than £43,000 to Constable Denise Gemmell after a tribunal found she had been victimised because of a medical condition.

The same year, firearms officers Steven Jones and Greg Tunnock received a combined payout of about £50,000 after successfully claiming sex discrimination.

In 2022, former firearms officer Rhona Malone was awarded more than £940,000 after a tribunal ruled she had been discriminated against after raising concerns about a sexist email.