Tag Archive for Police Numbers

CRIME IN DUNDEE FALLS BY A QUARTER

September 8, 2010 Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Shona Robison MSP No comments

Dundee’s MSPs today welcomed official statistics announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill today which show that recorded crime in Tayside has dropped by nearly a quarter in the last year  – on the same day that other official figures showed the number of police officers in Tayside has risen by 66, part of a Scotland-wide record increase of 1,190.

In Tayside, there were 3,588 fewer crimes last year while crime rates have dropped in 31 out of 32 Council areas across Scotland.

The latest Police Quarterly Strength figures were published today, showing that, as at 30 June 2010, there were 17,424 police officers in Scotland – a record high and 1,190 more than there were in March 2007.

Welcoming the statistics, Joe FitzPatrick said: “Despite popular preceptions, crime is falling dramatically and in Dundee there has been a 23% drop – nearly a quarter – from 15,512 recorded crimes in 2006-7 to 11,924 crimes in 2009-10. Crime in Scotland is at its lowest rate for over 30 years. This is excellent news but it is not a surprise because there are more police officers across Scotland than ever before, with an additional 1,190 on the streets.

“The number of police officers in Tayside has risen by 66 from 1,154 in March 2007 to 1,220 in June 2010.

“The Scottish Government has more than exceeded its pledge to recruit 1,000 extra police officers and this is having a direct impact in our communities by preventing crime and improving detection rates.”

Commenting on the publication of the statistics, Dundee East MSP Shona Robison said: “We have provided record levels of police funding this financial year, £1.4 billion – a 20 per cent rise since 2006-07.

“The Scottish Government’s budget for next year will not be known until the UK Government’s Spending Review in October but despite the cuts coming our way from Westminster, we will be doing our best to ensure that we continue to protect front-line services – including our police forces – and work to deliver  economic recovery.

“This will be a challenge, but maintaining our improved spending on front-line policing will remain a top priority. It has clearly been a big success so far but the public have a part to play too.

“We all have a responsibility to provide the police with the information that can help them detect crime – or to prevent crime happening in the first place.  The police can only help communities become safer places to live if they have the full support of those communities.”

Jim Barrie Welcomes Achievement of SNP Government’s Police Numbers Pledge

March 2, 2010 Uncategorized No comments

Jim Barrie, SNP Candidate for Dundee West at the forthcoming General Election, has welcomed publication today of official statistics on Police Officer Quarterly Strength, whcih show that the SNP Government has surpassed its manifesto commitment to increase the police numbers by 1,000 officers.

The statistics give the number of full-time equivalent police officers employed by eight Scottish police forces and there were 17,273 police officers (FTE) in Scotland on 31 December 2009. The numbers for Tayside have increased by 54 from March 2007 to DEcember 2009, in a total Scotland-wide increase during that period of 1,039.

Jim Barrie said: “There can be no question that the SNP Government has made good on its election promise to increase the number of police officers by 1,000. This is due to record funding for police recruitment and there are now a record numner of police officers on Scotland’s streets. Crime is at a 30 year low. THis is an SNP Government taking effective action to tackle crime and make our communities safer.”

The full statistical publication can be accessed at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00779

Tayside Police Numbers: More Bobbies on the Beat

September 7, 2009 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

The number of police on Scotland’s streets has hit a record high with 1044 new officers since 2007, according to new figures relesed today.
In Tayside there are now 37 more officers than in March 2007. In contrast between 2003 and 2007 under a Labour administration the number of police in Tayside increased by only three.
SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “This is welcome news and the trend in Tayside shows police numbers have been increasing over the last two years.
“There will always be occasional fluctuations as police officers retire but with more officers coming through training all the time Tayside is seeing the benefit of the SNP’s investment in making Scotland’s communities safer.
“With more police on the streets, more people in jail than ever before and the lowest ever rates of recorded crime the SNP in Government is making Scotland’s streets safer.
“There is always more to do and that is why we will continue to invest in police training, to offer kids alternatives to a life of crime through our cashback for communities scheme and to reform our criminal justice system to ensure those who should be locked up are locked up.”

Jim Barrie Welcomes Police Numbers Success

September 7, 2009 Uncategorized No comments

Dundee West SNP Candidate Jim Barrie today welcomed new figures which show that the Scottish Government has achieved its election pledge of putting 1,000 more police officers on the beat in Scotland.
Figures released today show that there are now 17,278 police officers in Scotland, the highest number ever, which can be compared to the 16,234 officers when Alex Salmond’s SNP Government came to power in May 2007.
Councillor Barrie said: “The SNP pledged to deliver 1,000 more police on the beat and that is what we have done. In fact, we have exceeded our target as the pledge was to be delivered befor the next election. We have delivered early and that is to be be weldomed by communities across Scotland.

“I add my congratulations to Chief Constables and to the Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill for making Scotland’s streets a safer place.

“Our opponents cannot avoid the truth that we have kept our promise.”

MSP Welcomes Extra Police in Tayside

June 22, 2009 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick today welcomed official statistics published today which reveal the highest ever level ever of police officers in post in Scotland.

Scotland’s Chief Statistician’s quarterly figures show 17,048 police officers in the eight police forces in Scotland on 31 March 2009.  This represents an increase of 373 full-time equivalent (FTE) over the last quarter, a 2.2% increase and an even greater increase of 5% since March 2007.

Welcoming the figures today, Joe FitzPatrick said: “Tayside now has more police officers than ever before, with 1,197 officers, an extra 30 ‘Bobbies on the Beat’ since we took over in 2007.

“However, the situation in Scotland contrasts with south of the border where the Police Federation of England & Wales have called for 2,000 extra police officers due to cutbacks by local police authorities.

 “With this record number of police on our streets we have made real progress in boosting police numbers across Scotland.

“These record figures show the SNP is delivering on our promise to put more police on Scotland’s streets.”

MSP Welcomes 30 Extra Police in Tayside

June 9, 2009 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

Official Statistics Reveal Record Scottish Police Numbers

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick today welcomed official statistics published today which reveal the highest ever level ever of police officers in post in Scotland.

Scotland’s Chief Statistician’s quarterly figures show 17,048 police officers in the eight police forces in Scotland on 31 March 2009. This represents an increase of 373 full-time equivalent (FTE) over the last quarter, a 2.2% increase and an even greater increase of 5% since March 2007.

Welcoming the figures today, Joe FitzPatrick said: “Tayside now has more police officers than ever before, with 1,197 officers, an extra 30 ‘Bobbies on the Beat’ since we took over in 2007.

“However, the situation in Scotland contrasts with south of the border where the Police Federation of England & Wales have called for 2,000 extra police officers due to cutbacks by local police authorities.

“With this record number of police on our streets we have made real progress in boosting police numbers across Scotland.

“These record figures show the SNP is delivering on our promise to put more police on Scotland’s streets.”

A Tale of Two Governments On Police Numbers

February 26, 2009 Joe FitzPatrick MSP No comments

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick today highlighted a report on police numbers being cut south of the border, where the London Labour government has responsibility, and said it was a timely reminder of how the SNP Government is delivering more police officers to keep Scottish communities safe.

According to a report in The Times large numbers of police forces are planning to cut thousands of officers with one of the UK’s most experienced chief constables saying that forces in England were being dangerously weakened. The report described ‘a grim picture of falling numbers and significant and painful cuts’ south of the border.

Commenting Joe FitzPatrick said: “This report is an indication of how things could have been in Labour were still in Government in Scotland.
Thankfully we have an SNP Government delivering an all-time record number of officers on our streets.

“Since the SNP came in to Government we have seen a more visible police presence on the streets, deterring crime and reassuring our citizens.

“The SNP pledged to hire 1,000 additional police recruits – that’s 1,000 more than there would have been under Labour.

“Figures show that in the Tayside police area the number of officers have gone up from 1,154 in the quarter ending March 07 to 1,185 under the latest figures ending in September 2008 – an increase of 31 officers.

“The SNP Government pledged to recruit 450 police officers by the end of March 2009. With Scotland’s police forces already recruiting 440 of those recruits we are well ahead of that target.

 

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