This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New recruits for Strathclyde Police
07/02/2005
The Justice Minister today welcomed 60 new recruits to
Strathclyde Police - Scotland's largest police force.
During the visit Cathy Jamieson outlined how forces are
using record investment in the police service to continue
to maintain the record number of police officers now in
service across Scotland.
This investment includes an extra £4.5m by 2007-08 -
part of the 17 per cent increase in police grant-aided
expenditure announced in October 2004 - to enable forces to
bring forward recruitment in 2006-07 and 2007-08 to counter
a surge in police officer retirements towards the end of
the decade.
Ms Jamieson said:
"This Executive is working hard to protect our
communities and prevent and detect crime. Central to that
effort is ensuring that the police service is fully
equipped, resourced and supported.
"Between 1999-2000 and 2004-05, investment in the police
increased by 31 per cent - more than twice the rate of
inflation and, in October 2004, I announced that police
grant-aided expenditure over the next three years would
increase by 17 per cent.
"As part of that increase, the Executive will be
investing £1.5 million in 2006-7 rising to £4.5 million in
2007-08 to enable forces throughout Scotland to increase
their intake of new recruits and so better manage their
workforce requirements against future retirements. I expect
this investment to lead to more police being targeted
towards frontline duties, like detecting and preventing
crime.
"I would like to wish today's new recruits and
probationers every success in their future careers. These
new police officers will become the future of Scotland's
Police Service. A future committed to the creation of a
safer Scotland with less crime and a reduced fear of
crime."
Deputy Chief Constable Ricky Gray Assistant Secretary of
the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland
said:
"ACPOS very much welcomes the funding allocated by the
Executive to boost recruitment in advance of a very
significant increase in expected retirals.
"We are delighted the Executive has listened to and
acknowledged the concerns expressed by ACPOS about not just
the inevitable loss of officers but more importantly the
loss of experienced officers. That was always going to be
harder for Forces to manage.
"The extra money will allow additional recruitment to
take place in 2007/8. This will ensure that when we are hit
with the biggest expected amount of retirals in 2010, we
have experienced and trained officers ready to take their
place."