Labour demands review of police

LABOUR has called for a review of police jobs amid concerns that officers are being taken off the beat to perform support duties.

The party warned cuts to support staff are a false economy which undermine public safety.

Labour justice spokeswoman Johann Lamont said: “Our police officers should be out on the beat protecting our communities, not back-filling jobs previously done by the hundreds of support staff which have been sacked by the SNP.

“There are continued, troubling reports that officers are being deployed to complete roles that previously – rightly, and more cost effectively – were carried out by support staff.”