Lanarkshire Tory MSP slams 'appalling' cut in divisional police numbers

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Graham Simpson has slammed the SNP Government for overseeing cuts to the police force. The Central Scotland Conservative MSP's criticism comes after new statistics showed that officer numbers are at their lowest since March 2009.Since the SNP’s merging of police forces into Police Scotland in 2013, there has been a reduction of 643 local police officers including 82 in Lanarkshire.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Mr Simpson said frontline officers in Lanarkshire are being treated "appallingly" by the Scottish Government.He is now backing Scottish Conservative plans for a Local Policing Act to restore local patrols and ensure communities can have a say in local policing decisions.

he told Lanarkshire Live : “Our hardworking police officers work tirelessly to protect our communities. "But they are doing so with one hand tied behind their back thanks to the SNP Government.“Ministers simply aren’t giving our police the resources they need.

It is clear Police Scotland simply hasn’t worked for communities here in Lanarkshire with the loss of so many local officers since 2013.“This is putting the safety of people in our communities at risk which is completely unacceptable."The latest statistics show that, as of December 31, there were 17,117 full-time equivalent police officers across Scotland - the