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SNP pressed over police recruits Parties challenge SNP on policing
(about 1 hour later)
The Scottish Government has been accused of giving the police "a kicking" in a row over the recruitment of additional officers. The Scottish Government is facing defeat in parliament over its plans for more police officers.
The Scottish Conservatives will lead a Holyrood debate accusing the SNP administration of betraying voters. Opposition parties have accused the SNP of misleading voters after ministers said they would boost capacity by the "equivalent" of 1,000 extra officers.
They claim its election promise to recruit 1,000 officers has been broken. However, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said a 1,000-officer increase in capacity would be delivered.
SNP ministers were criticised after they said they would increase police capacity by the "equivalent" of 1,000 extra officers. He told Holyrood that figure would include recruitment, retention and redeployment.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has said an announcement boosting Scotland's policing capacity is imminent. In a Conservative-led debate in parliament, the party's justice spokesman, Bill Aitken, referred to the SNP's election manifesto commitment to set out plans in its first budget for "1,000 more police".
The Scottish Government must confirm in today's debate whether or not they intend to honour this promise Margaret SmithScottish Lib Dems I can confirm that we will deliver a visible police presence, that we will provide an additional 1,000 officers for our communities Kenny MacAskill,Justice secretary
Tory leader Annabel Goldie said: "To make a clear pledge as the first minister did at the election and give his personal endorsement to that pledge and then retreat on it is frankly and affront to the public. He claimed that a failure of the government to recruit that number would be an "appalling breach of trust".
"I think its also a betrayal of our police officers. The Scottish Conservatives are not going to stand by and watch the Scottish Government give our police officers a kicking." The concerns were backed by Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman Margaret Smith MSP also criticised the government over the issue. Mr MacAskill said ministers would provide funding for "substantial additional recruitment", but added that it was also vital to retain the skills of highly experienced officers as well as cutting back on the bureaucracy which left police deskbound and filing, instead of being out on patrol.
She said: "The SNP promised the Scottish people that, if elected, they would increase police numbers by 1,000 by the end of the parliamentary session. He told MSPs: "I can confirm that we will deliver a visible police presence, that we will provide an additional 1,000 officers for our communities and we will do so through recruitment, through the retention and through redeployment to maximise it, not simply by more numbers."
Speaking ahead of the debate, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman Margaret Smith said: "The SNP promised the Scottish people that, if elected, they would increase police numbers by 1,000 by the end of the parliamentary session.
"Now, almost five months into the SNP administration, the justice secretary doesn't know how many more police officers he will deliver."Now, almost five months into the SNP administration, the justice secretary doesn't know how many more police officers he will deliver.
"The Scottish Government must confirm in today's debate whether or not they intend to honour this promise that they will put 1,000 more police officers on Scotland's streets.""The Scottish Government must confirm in today's debate whether or not they intend to honour this promise that they will put 1,000 more police officers on Scotland's streets."
Mr MacAskill said the forthcoming announcement on increasing Scotland's policing capacity "will involve investment for substantial additional recruitment".
However Mr MacAskill added: "This is not simply about numbers on the payroll, it is about ensuring a genuine improvement in how policing is delivered in our communities.
"This will involve recruitment but also increased retention of experienced officers and the redeployment of existing officers."