Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the publication of quarterly statistics which show that there are now 1,175 more police officers protecting Scotland's communities than there was before the SNP came to power.
In Grampian the latest figures show there are now 1,550 police officers, an increase of 176 since the previous administration.
Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:
"Before the election the SNP promised to recruit 1,000 extra police officers in order to drive down crime and make our communities safer places for everyone. With the latest figures showing that there are now 1,175 more bobbies on the beat, we have both surpassed our target and gotten there ahead of schedule.
"There is no substitute for having more police officers out on patrol across Scotland and I know that people in Banff & Buchan welcome the more visible police presence that having more officers makes possible.
"With more officers Grampian Police are better able to drive down crime and make our local communities safer places to live, so these figures are extremely good news for people in Banff & Buchan"
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
