Katherine Sangster MSP, Chief Constable Jo Farrell, and Justice Secretary Neil Gray.
by BILL HEANEY
Does the number of police officers allocated to your area match the population? And are you content with the services allocated across West Dunbartonshire and Argyll, which includes Helensburgh and Lomond?
Labour MSP Katherine Sangster asked the Government what assessment it has made of the impact of projected population growth on its decisions regarding the allocation of police resources.
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice Neil Gray said the allocation of police resources is the responsibility of the chief constable, who is operationally independent, with oversight from the Scottish Police Authority.
He added: “In allocating resources, the chief constable will take account of demand, threat, risk and harm across the country and will allocate officers, staff and budgets to the areas where they will have the greatest impact on public safety.
“Police Scotland’s new evidence-led policing for our communities model, which is expected to be in place nationally by March next year, uses a rich mix of demand information and data, including population distribution, to help it determine what resources are required, as well as where and when they are required. “
Katherine Sangster said that in her constituency population growth is forecast to be higher than the national average over the next decade, but the area currently has nearly half the full-time-equivalent police officers per 10,000 people that the rest of Scotland has.
“How will the Government ensure that future spending on policing takes into account where the largest population growth will be and not just where the largest population is now?”
Neil Gray replied that there were similar problems in other areas.
He added: “These are matters for the chief constable in allocating resources, but they are also areas of active discussion with the Scottish Police Authority and the chief constable to ensure that there is a fair spread of response availability and capability.”
Colin Beattie (SNP) commented that the Scottish National Party has invested record funding of more than £1.7 billion for policing in 2026-27.
He asked: “How will that investment, and the Government’s plans, ensure that Scotland’s police service will always be visible and at the heart of our communities?”
Neil Gray told him: “The funding will allow Police Scotland to deliver its 2030 vision and its three-year business plan, including its aim to increase the capacity and capability of its local policing teams.
“Together, those will set a clear direction for a service that is equipped to meet new challenges while remaining visible, accessible and connected to the communities that it serves.
“The public rightly expects to see policing in their communities, and the chief constable has made it clear that community policing remains fundamental to Police Scotland’s approach.
“Local police officers play a crucial role not only in responding to crime but in preventing harm, building trust and maintaining confidence.”
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