SNP hails increase in Scots police numbers

POLICE have continued to deliver on the Scottish Government’s flagship pledge to maintain more than 1,000 additional officers since the SNP came to power.

The latest police officer quarterly strength statistics show that there were 17,343 police officers in Scotland on December 31, 2011.

That is an increase of over 1,100 officers - up almost 7 per cent from the position on March 31, 2007 shortly before the start of the first SNP administration at Holyrood.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “I welcome yet another increase in the number of officers across Scotland.

“By continuing to deliver on our target to put 1,000 extra police in communities we are keeping our streets safe and contributing towards the current 35-year low in recorded crime.”

“Our officers are doing an excellent job, fewer Scots are now likely to become victims of crime and reoffending rates are at an 11-year low.

“The risk of crime is lower in Scotland than in England and Wales. South of the border there is now the lowest number of officers since 2002 and an estimated 16,000 police are likely to lose their jobs due to UK Government funding cuts.”