MSP Calls for Increase in Police Funding

Stewart Stevenson MSP today welcomed the response he has received from Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson that the working group on police funding are to make further adjustments to the Grampian Force allocation. The SNP MSP for Banff and Buchan has been pressing the Justice Minister for an increase in Grampian Police Force funding.

Stewart Stevenson remarked:

“Figures recently released by the Justice Department reveal that Grampian Police force has the lowest ratio of police officers per head of population in the whole of Scotland, which is a deplorable situation. I have been on a Saturday night patrol with Grampian Police, and have first-hand experience of the dangers of undermanning on the front line.

“In recent years Grampian Police has suffered a disparity in funding compared to similar forces - and that is without taking the additional responsibilities of Royal Family protection and North Sea Oil Industry duties into consideration. The Grampian Force has been compelled to draw on accumulated reserves in order to maintain current levels of service, and that is wholly unsustainable in the medium to long term.”

He called on Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson to commit adequate resources to ensure that Grampian Police can have sufficient officers on the ground. Currently there are only 25 officers per thousand head of population in the Grampian force area, compared with 34 officers per thousand in Strathclyde.

Mr. Stevenson drew attention for the fact that there had been a steady decline in Special Constables in the Grampian force since 1995, and welcomed the volunteer recruitment initiative currently under way, headed by Assistant Chief Constable Patrick Shearer.

“Grampian Police are to be commended for the sterling job which they have performed in the face of rising crime statistics, and systematic underfunding by the Government. The New Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition came to power heralding their intention to be ‘Tough on crime, and tough on the causes of crime’ – so far I have only seen evidence of their being tough on Grampian Police Joint Board.”