Scottish Government Strengthening Policing in West Lothian

Scottish Government Strengthening Policing in West Lothian

POLICE NUMBERS RISE IN SCOTLAND

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT STRENGTHENING POLICING IN WEST LOTHIAN

West Lothian MSP Angela Constance has welcomed news that the number of police officers in Scotland has risen to over 16,500 by the end of 2024, highlighting the Scottish Government’s continued commitment to improving policing in West Lothian and across the country.

Figures released today by Scotland’s Chief Statistician confirm that the number of full-time equivalent officers has grown over the past year, reaching 16,508.

The Scottish Government has a strong track record of investing in policing and keeping communities safe, with recorded crime falling by 40% since 2006-07. Scotland continues to have more police officers per head than England, with 298 officers per 100,000 people compared to 237 in England. Police officers in Scotland also receive higher pay than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK.

To build on this progress, an additional £57 million in resource funding for Police Scotland was allocated in the latest Scottish Budget, reinforcing the governments commitment to public safety.

Commenting on the figures, Angela Constance said:

I welcome these numbers that show police officer numbers in Scotland are increasing year on year, which is good news for communities here in West Lothian. The Scottish Government have a strong record on policing, recorded crime is down 40% since 2007, we have the highest number of officers per head anywhere in the UK, and police staff here receive the best pay in the UK.  But we’re not stopping there, people in West Lothian deserve to feel safe and confident in their local police services. That’s why the Scottish Government has allocated an extra £57 million in funding for Police Scotland this year, ensuring officers have the resources they need to keep our communities safe.

NOTES:

Publication here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/police-officer-quarterly-strength-statistics-31-december-2024/ 

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