SCOTLAND GETS OVER 1000 MORE POLICE FOR SCOTLAND'S STREETS.

SCOTLAND GETS OVER 1000 MORE POLICE FOR SCOTLAND'S STREETS.

SCOTLAND'S SNP WELCOME OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE RECORD POLICE NUMBERS

Welcoming the release of a police force projection survey which shows the SNP Government is on course to exceed it’s commitment to deliver 1000 more police on Scotland’s streets by 2011 SNP MSP Nigel Don called for other parties to put their support behind the police instead of playing politics with community safety.

The study shows police numbers could increase by 1250 between 2007 and 2011.

Mr Don also welcomed the Labour party’s decision to hold a debate on the Government’s successful implementation of its programme for recruitment, retention and redeployment.

“For the first time Scotland is genuinely seeing more bobbies on the beat.

“Less than half way into the SNP’s first term in Government we are nearly half way to meeting our pledge and on course to exceed it by 200 further officers.

“Opposition parties failed to deliver the significant boost in policing numbers needed in Scotland. The SNP has taken action and communities across Scotland are seeing the results.

“Richard Baker’s bleating and political game playing with public safety must now come to an end.

"In Grampian we are set to see an extra 98 officers on our streets with a further 75 in Tayside, nearly 200 in Lothian and Borders and over 450 in Strathclyde.

“Tomorrow’s parliamentary platform to debate the number of police in our communities gives MSPs of every party the opportunity to welcome the progress so far and to acknowledge the police and government's efforts in making Scotland's streets safer.”