Police Scotland risks becoming a "quasi-paramilitary force" only capable of responding to "the most serious incidents" due to budget cuts, MSPs have been warned.
The national constabulary is struggling to balance the books as a result of a predicted flatline cash settlement from the Scottish Government over the next five years.
Senior officers are already grappling with a recruitment crisis after the number of cops deciding to retire has rocketed this year.
David Page, deputy chief officer, was asked by members of Holyrood's criminal justice committee today on the potential impact on policing by a frozen budget at a time of soaring inflation.
In a bleak assessment, the top official warned services like community policing, officers based in schools and colleges, and the 101 non-emergency number could all be in the firing line.
He told MSPs the force was "acutely aware" that other public sector services were also facing budget pressures.
Page said: "What has happened in the past is that when services are withdrawn people still need them. People still need to be able to pick up a phone and get help. If other services are being withdrawn, because they are suffering from funding cuts, we pick up the slack.
"The problem is, as the demand is increasing, our resources are reducing. Our ability to answer 999 calls will be slowed. The 101 service - do we continue with that? If we don't continue with the 101 service, all that will do is shift more people into dialling 999.
"What will happen then is it will take you longer to get through and longer for us to respond. Response policing, digital forensics, public protection, all of those areas will be squeezed."
Page added: "There is a real concern that we won't be able to discharge our duties as we currently do. We provide one of the best policing services in the UK and the world. Our officers are part of our communities. You start to lose that.
"Our clear-up rates are good - they can always be better - but part of that is because of the engagement with our communities. We don’t want Police Scotland to become almost like a quasi-paramilitary force where all you can deal with is the most serious incidents. That's not what Police Scotland was intended to be. It's not what our officers and staff joined Police Scotland to do.
"They are focused on the well-being of communities. They are focused on helping kids in schools, helping councils, helping vulnerable people. All of these things would be at risk."
MSPs were also told an average of 573 officers retired each year - but so far in 2022 a total of 1,118 had taken retirement by October alone, with the final number expected to be much higher.
SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor said the officials’ statements had been the "starkest" he had heard in his six years at Holyrood.
"We need to sit up and take note," he added.
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