SNP break election promise of 1000 extra Police Officers

Scotland to get 1000 extra Police if the SNP are elected. SNP elected, no extra Police. Promise broken ...

The Scotsman reports :

SNP accused of breaking vow on 1,000 extra police

LOUISE GRAY

THE Scottish Government has come under fire from rank-and-file police over its pledge to recruit 1,000 officers.

Joe Grant, chief executive of the Scottish Police Federation, insisted officers understood the commitment was for new officers to be recruited, not for existing staff to be redeployed, as the SNP now claims.

Uncertainty arose when ministers said that capacity would be increased by "the equivalent" of 1,000 extra officers. Mr Grant said: "When you hear the term new police officers, there is no doubt about that.

"If you think there are enough efficiencies to produce anywhere near the 1,000 extra officers needed in Scotland, you are up a gum tree."

In a motion to the Scottish Parliament yesterday, the Scottish Government admitted 1,000 "additional officers in our communities" would include officers kept on through "improved retention and redeployment".

Annabel Goldie, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said the SNP had broken an election pledge.