Stevenson Delighted as Scottish Government Meets Police Target Ahead of Schedule

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has warmly welcomed the news that the SNP Government has met its election pledge of putting 1,000 extra police officers on the beat in Scotland ahead of schedule. The latest figures reveal that there are now 17,278 officers across Scotland, an increase of 1,044 (+6.4%) since March 2007.

This figure means that there are now more police officers in Scotland than there has ever been before. The Grampian area has seen an additional 19 police officers recruited in the last quarter to bring the number of officers serving there to 1,532. This is an increase of 158 since March 2007.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“During the election the SNP promised to put 1,000 more bobbies on the beat over the lifetime of this parliament and I am delighted by the news that this promise has now been met well ahead of schedule.

“The additional police officers in Banff & Buchan and across the whole of Scotland are working hard to make our communities safer and are having a real impact. When it comes to fighting crime, there really is no substitute for putting more officers on patrol and creating a more visible police presence.

“Having more police officers fighting crime in our communities is already having a measurable benefit. I would like to offer my congratulations to all of Scotland’s Chief Constables and to the Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, for delivering on this promise so quickly and believe that opposition MSPs should now swallow their pride and do the same.”