SNP hit police recruitment target

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2009-09-01

A flagship SNP manifesto pledge to recruit 1,000 more police officers has been reached early, the Scottish Government said today.

In June, Scotland had 17,278 officers - up from 16,234 when the SNP came to power in 2007.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "The Scottish Government has pledged to deliver a more visible policing presence and that is why we committed to increase the number of police officers by 1,000 by the end of this Parliament. "The fact that this target has already been reached shows our determination to provide our police forces with the capability and resources to deter crime and police our communities. "This continuing increase is in part the result of our direct recruitment of new officers, over and above the recruitment plans of our police forces. We are also working with forces on retention and redeployment of officers. "Our Chief Constables should be congratulated for redeploying their officers and delivering more police on our streets as this Government delivers record numbers to our police forces. "The Scottish Police College is also a vital cog in this operation and  deserves recognition for the fantastic job it is doing in sustaining an exceptionally high number of trainees. Through its work it is making sure that all new police recruits get the skills and training they need to serve as officers in Scotland's police service. "The key to the police service's ability to respond is not just its size, but its capacity. The right people, with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time. That's why this Government is focussing on building the capacity of the police service in Scotland - not just the numbers." North East MSP Nigel Don who is also a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee today challenged opposition politicians to admit that the SNP had delivered more bobbies on the beat across Scotland: “In 2007 the SNP said we would put more bobbies on the beat. In Government the SNP have met that pledge. “In 2007 there were 16234 police in Scotland’s communities, now there are 17278. That is what we promised and with the increased resources invested in police training that commitment has been delivered nearly two years ahead of schedule.

“Where Labour leader Iain Gray claimed it would take 13 years to meet this commitment, the SNP and Scotland's police have ensured there are 1000 more officers on our streets in just over two years.

“It is now time for the opposition to have the good grace to accept that there are over 1000 more police on our streets, that there are more to come and that the SNP and Scotland’s police forces are delivering safer streets for Scotland’s communities. "The police force projection study suggests there will be between 17,275 and 17,484 police officers in our communities by 2011. “Today is a milestone in meeting our commitment to make Scotland safer. Whilst there is always more to do under the SNP there are more police on the streets, more people in jail than ever before and the lowest ever rates of recorded crime."
  1. Increase from Q1 2007 (March 31st) to Q2 2009 (June 30th) - 1044 additional police officers
  2. In the last quarter the number of police officers increased by 230.
  3. Opposition Quotes on SNP Commitment to provide 1000 extra officers;
  • August 29th 2008, The Times – Iain Gray said; “at this rate it will take the SNP 13 years to keep their promise.”
  • March 4, 2009 The Herald; Labour's justice spokesman Richard Baker said: "Kenny MacAskill needs to come clean now and say if there will be 17,236 or more officers by May 2011 or not?"
  • March 4th 2009, The Express, Labour's justice spokesman Richard Baker said:"Until there are 17,236 officers in Scotland, the SNP manifesto promise remains unmet."
  • Helen Eadie “By 2011, the police establishment in Scotland must rise to 17,234” (official report, Wednesday 16 April 2008.

 

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