Scots Tory leader's police pledge

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Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie has promised to put 1,500 more police on the streets if her party wins power at the Holyrood elections in May.

Miss Goldie revealed the new policy during her party's conference in Perth.

She said increasing the number of police was vital to deter and detect crime.

A Labour Party spokesman said Labour had put a record level of police on Scotland streets after decades of Tory under-investment.

But Miss Goldie claimed that on average there were fewer than 150 police men and women on Scotland's streets at any one time.

She said: "More police officers in our communities deterring and detecting crime is essential for maintaining public confidence.

Under the Lib-Lab pact there are, on average, on 147 police officers on the beat at any one time in the whole of Scotland Annabel GoldieScottish Conservatives leader

"Traditionally, communities across Scotland had the reassurance of a local police officer who was an integral part of their neighbourhood, building up relationships and reducing the fear of crime.

"However under the Lib-Lab pact there are, on average, on 147 police officers on the beat at any one time in the whole of Scotland.

"That is unacceptable. No wonder three out of four crimes are never reported."

Miss Goldie claimed that in New York, a city which had struggled with high crime levels , the high-profile presence of additional officers had led to a huge reduction in offences.

A Labour Party spokesman said: "Labour has put a record level of police on Scotland streets after decades of Tory under-investment.

Immediate priority

"The reality is that this election will be a choice between building Scotland with Labour or breaking up Britain with the SNP.

"Scots who want more police should vote Labour on 3 May. The Scottish Tories are an irrelevance."

The Tory conference has so far been overshadowed by a leaked memo, purportedly written by David Mundell, the party's sole MP north of the border, criticising the party's Scottish leadership and MSPs.

Mr Mundell had been due to take part in a question and answer session with activists on Friday but he failed to take his place in the panel of politicians.

However he is still expected to address the conference on Saturday.