Kenny MacAskill pays visit to new joint community safety unit

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill visited West Lothian to help launch a new community safety unit to be run by West Lothian Council and Lothian and Borders Police.

Based in the Civic Centre, Livingston, where both the police and council have their headquarters, the new joint unit will focus on tackling issues such as antisocial behaviour, vandalism, deliberate fires and hate crime.

It is believed to be the first jointly run unit of its kind in Scotland. Mr MacAskill said: "This new specialist unit is a fantastic example of law enforcement agencies and the community pulling together to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour. The streets of West Lothian will be safer as a result."