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 the latest quarterly police numbers which show that the Scottish Government is continuing to deliver on its commitment of putting more than 1,000 extra police offers on patrol in Scotland’s streets.
In the last quarter there were 1,546 police officers serving in Grampian police, compared to 1,545 at the end of 2009, an increase of 172 since the SNP was elected in 2007. The Scottish Government’s draft budget which was recently budget clearly outlined the determination to maintain additional police numbers as part of the finance settlement with local authorities. Across Scotland the latest figures showed there were 17,371 serving police officers, an increase of 1,137 since March 2007.
Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:
“These latest numbers clearly show that having fulfilled our promise of delivering more than 1,000 extra police officers across Scotland ahead of schedule, the Scottish Government has been working to maintain that improved level of provision.
“Although the quarterly figures have fluctuated up and down by small numbers as officers retire and new members of the police are recruited, the fact that police numbers in Grampian are almost identical to what they were at the end of 2009 shows that those extra officer numbers are being maintained.
“What is more, the SNP Government has made clear that we are determined to maintain these additional officers despite the cuts that Westminster’s spending decisions have forced upon us. Crime in Scotland is at its lowest level for 32 years and that is in large part thanks to these extra officers.
“The publication of these statistics continues to demonstrate that the SNP Government is determined to give police the resources they need to maintain their remarkable efforts at keeping Scotland’s streets safe for everyone.”
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
