Explained in five minutes: Sturgeon’s 24-hour police protection
Ms. Sturgeon – now just MSP – was entitled to the officers during her time at the helm.
But now it’s believed that despite her former notoriety, she no longer has a 24-hour bodyguard.
What is the First Minister’s security detail?
While details are obviously sparse, it is believed that there are six officers and two vehicles monitoring the First Minister at all times.
It is reported that providing this level of security costs £600,000 a year.
READ MORE: Police security detail ‘pulled by former Foreign Secretary’
Past First Ministers such as Alex Salmond and Jack McConnell are afforded the same level of security.
Why is Nicola Sturgeon losing her security team now?
Ms Sturgeon has not been at the helm since stepping down in March. Normally this would have ended Police Scotland’s involvement in her safety as well, but concerns have been raised about previous threats she has faced.
Nicola Sturgeon resigned in March
What were those threats?
Aside from abuse on social media, Ms Sturgeon has also faced direct death threats.
Earlier this year, a man who posted death threats online and assaulted a sheriff was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison.
William Curtis, 67, from Aberchirder, Aberdeenshire, also threatened his former local MSP Stewart Stevenson.
READ MORE: Should Nicola Sturgeon keep her 24-hour police protection?
In February Hugh Docherty, 42, of Fife, was jailed for sending a message saying Ms Sturgeon should be “executed” for treason.
Docherty was sent to prison the day the First Secretary announced her resignation.
Humza Yousaf
Does Humza Yousaf have the same level of protection?
As First Minister, Mr. Yousaf is also under 24-hour police surveillance.
He said Ms Sturgeon told him she was tired of the constant surveillance.
The First Minister told an audience on the outskirts of Edinburgh that Ms Sturgeon once told him: “You have no idea what it’s like. I can’t even go out for coffee with a friend without cops sitting at the table next to me.”
