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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Parties challenge SNP on policing | Parties challenge SNP on policing |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Scottish Government is facing defeat in parliament over its plans for more police officers. | The Scottish Government is facing defeat in parliament over its plans for more police officers. |
| Opposition parties have accused the SNP of misleading voters after ministers said they would boost capacity by the "equivalent" of 1,000 extra officers. | Opposition parties have accused the SNP of misleading voters after ministers said they would boost capacity by the "equivalent" of 1,000 extra officers. |
| However, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said a 1,000-officer increase in capacity would be delivered. | However, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said a 1,000-officer increase in capacity would be delivered. |
| He told Holyrood that figure would include recruitment, retention and redeployment. | He told Holyrood that figure would include recruitment, retention and redeployment. |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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 | 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 |
| He claimed that a failure of the government to recruit that number would be an "appalling breach of trust". | He claimed that a failure of the government to recruit that number would be an "appalling breach of trust". |
| The concerns were backed by Labour and the Liberal Democrats. | The concerns were backed by Labour and the Liberal Democrats. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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." | 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." |