Labour says SNP's police vow to take 13 years to fulfil

Published on Friday 29 August 2008 21:40

NEW figures reveal that the SNP will take 13 years to fulfil its promise of providing 1,000 extra police officers on Scotland's streets, Labour has claimed.

There were 16,339 police officers in Scotland between 1 April and 30 June this year, new Scottish Government figures have revealed.

The number is an increase of 118 officers on the previous quarter and the highest figure ever recorded.

SNP ministers have been quick to point out that, had Labour been in power, there would have been a shortfall of more than 150 and no target of reaching 1,000.

Paul Martin MSP, Labour's justice spokesman, said: "We welcome the recruitment of every new police officer, but at this rate of progress it will take over 13 years for the SNP to meet its manifesto commitment. This simply isn't good enough when so many of our communities continue to live in fear of crime."

A similar message was put out by Labour leadership hopeful Iain Gray, which was immediately pounced upon by the SNP. Mr Gray led Labour's attack on the budget which provided the money for 1,000 extra police officers after a deal between the Conservatives and the SNP.

An aide to Mr MacAskill said: "Labour and the Liberal Democrats are going to have to eat a big slice of humble pie now that police numbers have increased to record levels – well over 100 above the position we inherited from them."