Scotland's policing commissioner has warned that high-level investigations, including deaths in custody, are taking longer due to a soaring case load.

Laura Paton, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc), said the record level of demand was jeopardising her ability to help deliver justice on behalf of communities.

Latest figures show the organisation is managing 191 investigations, including 49 deaths.

This year Pirc has also had its highest ever number of simultaneous death investigations.

Paton said the increase in demand was "beyond our control" and added there was a "limit to what we alone can achieve".

Pirc's annual report covers the 12 months to 31 March, during which Pirc began 41 death investigations - a 128% increase from 18 in the 2024-25 period.

This includes seven investigations into domestic abuse-related homicides and suicides.

The watchdog has carried out a strategic review to assess demand against resources while also setting a new future direction.

But Paton said wider action was now needed as Pirc was experiencing a "sustained increase in demand".

She added: "We will take all reasonable steps to work efficiently, prioritise serious investigations, and maintain the quality of those investigations, however there is a limit to what we alone can achieve.

"In the absence of external intervention - such as a reduction in demand, additional funding or the delayed expansion of our statutory functions - a further deterioration in the timeliness of our investigations is inevitable."

"This means that we will not be able to deliver the service that the public rightly expects; this will affect bereaved families and complainers, as well as confidence in police accountability and policing itself."

The organisation also said it was expecting an increase in the public seeking assistance from Pirc as Police Scotland worked through a significant backlog of police complaints.

Paton said this was of "considerable concern".

She added: "Not only are members of the public waiting too long but the number of those who remain dissatisfied with the response and apply to Pirc for a review has increased.

"We have also noted delays in Police Scotland's implementation of the recommendations arising from our reviews.

"This concerning trend is being closely monitored."

Police Scotland and the Scottish government have been approached for comment.