SNP delivering lowest police numbers since devolution

13/11/07

Edinburgh West MSP Margaret Smith has revealed that the Scottish Government is on track to deliver the lowest number of new police officers since devolution. 

Mrs Smith also blasted the Justice Secretary for being unable to answer basic questions about the number of police on the streets at the moment. The revelation came as the Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill appeared before the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee to justify the SNP’s u-turn on their manifesto commitment.

Commenting after the meeting of the Justice Committee, Mrs Smith said:

“Hard on the heels of the u-turn on 1,000 more police officers, the Justice Secretary has admitted that the government is set to deliver the lowest annual number of police recruits since devolution began.

“The Justice Secretary also revealed that he has no idea how many police officers are in our communities at present.

“How on earth are MSPs and the people of Scotland to hold this government to account on their ever-changing promises, when the Cabinet Secretary himself doesn’t even know how many police officers we have in our communities right now?”

Read the Justice Committee proceedings in full >>