SNP must deliver their promise of 1,000 extra police

4.00.00pm GMT Wed 25th Feb 2009

Kevin Lang and Cllr Charles Dundas want to see the SNP Government deliver on their promise of 1,000 extra police.

Liberal Democrats in Edinburgh North & Leith have pressed the SNP Scottish Government not to dump its pledge to deliver 1,000 extra police, after the Justice Secretary warned higher rates of officer retirals was a barrier to meeting the 2011 target.

Under the Liberal Democrat council, crime has reduced by 20%. However, local LibDems want to see figures improve even further and are fighting for a package of measures that help prevent crime from happening in the first place.

Local Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Edinburgh North & Leith, Kevin Lang said, "Every week, I speak to hundreds of people right across Edinburgh North & Leith. I know that crime remains a real concern and that residents want more local police to help cut offending.

"At the last election, the SNP promised 1,000 more police. The Justice Secretary cannot use officer retirement rates as an excuse for any failure to meeting that promise. After all, this is something that any sensible government would factor into their calculations.

"There must be no more excuses from Ministers on this issue. The SNP Government has already dumped a series of pledges, like getting rid of the council tax and scrapping student debt. They cannot be allowed to add their promise to increase police numbers to their ever growing list of u-turns."