This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Commitment to policing reaffirmed
19/04/2005
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson re-affirmed the
Executive's commitment to improving frontline policing and
supporting the service in the fight against crime at the
Scottish Police Federation Conference today.
The Minister pointed to a range of developments and
improvements announced since last autumn, including:
- A 17 per cent increase over the next three years in
police grant-aided expenditure - taking it to £1.1
billion by 2007-08
- Providing investment to set up a Police Business
Benefits Unit to help Scottish police forces improve
their efficiency and ensure every penny possible of
funding is spent on frontline policing
- Plans in the Police Bill consultation paper to
improve the crime-fighting powers of the police, such
as the introduction of football banning orders and
giving the police the unconditional power to arrest
someone suspected of carrying a knife
Ms Jamieson said:
"An early priority for this Executive was to deliver
record resources for the Scottish Police Service. This has
been done - and is continuing to be done. Indeed,
Scotland's budget last year enabled me to announce a 17 per
cent increase in the primary source of police funding - GAE
- over the next three years.
"Those record resources have enabled us to work with
forces to deliver a record number of police officers in
Scotland - almost 16,000 whole-time equivalent officers by
the end of 2004.
"As well as investing in resources, I have also stepped
up our efforts to ensure resources are used more
efficiently- and targeted at the frontline. In September,
we provided funding for a new Police Business Benefits Unit
to help forces cut red-tape and improve efficiency across a
wide range of back office services and thereby maximise
their spending on preventing and tackling crime.
"The roll-out of the Reliance contract, while initially
problematic, has also now enabled us to re-direct more than
200 police officers from escorting duties to the
frontline.
"More police spending more of their time doing what they
do best. But also supported with the tools they need to
tackle today's problems. That's why we are currently
consulting on proposals to further help the police in their
efforts to protect communities, including the introduction
of football banning orders and measures to tackle knife
crime.
"All this sends a clear message to the service and the
public, that officers throughout Scotland have my full
backing and support. And that we will continue to work with
them to create safer communities."
The Executive's Partnership Agreement includes a
commitment to improve on the current record level of
overall police numbers. At end-December 2004, there were
15,908 whole time equivalent police officers serving in the
Scottish Police Service - an increase of 415 over December
2003 and 913 since December 2001.
The Police Bill consultation will run until May 3 and
will pave the way for new legislation to strengthen and
improve policing and law enforcement in Scotland.