This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7080419.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Officers express staffing fears SNP urged to boost police numbers
(about 8 hours later)
The majority of police officers in Scotland think the force is understaffed, according to a survey. Scotland's police officers have called on the government to immediately deliver on its plan to boost numbers.
The research was carried out by the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which is due to give evidence to MSPs. The Scottish Police Federation also said a wider look at the role of policing was needed.
It has already made a written submission to the justice committee, which is conducting an inquiry into the effective use of police resources. But it played down suggestions from the newly-formed Scottish Police Service Authority that a wider role could be given to civilian staff.
The SPF said 82% of those who replied to its survey felt there were too few or far too few officers in their area. The federation's comments came amid an inquiry being carried out on the issue by Holyrood's justice committee.
Almost 40% felt the police provided an "average" service to the public, while 34.4% thought they provided a "poor" or "very poor" service. The organisation's general secretary, Joe Grant, pressed the need to deliver the Scottish Government's pledge of 1,000 more police officers - which ministers have said would be made "available" through recruitment, retention and redeployment - while calling for a wider look at the role of the force.
SPF sees a substantial increase for 24/7 response policing as an absolute requirement Scottish Police Federation submission The public do like to see police officers on the beat where they get the benefit Alasdair GilliesScottish Police Federation
The federation has more than 16,000 members, representing more than 98% of all police officers in Scotland. "My point is that we absolutely need 1,000 additional officers right now to allow us to undertake that review," he told MSPs.
Its submission also pointed to research which estimated that only 7.5% of officers were available for deployment at any time. Mr Grant said the future need not see a return to the Dixon of Dock Green days in the 1960s when police officers "roamed about aimlessly", adding: "We're talking about structured patrolling."
The figures were compiled in 2002 by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos). The comments were echoed by Alasdair Gillies, secretary of the federation's inspectors' central committee.
The federation said: "Clearly this report is now five years out of date but our view is that if there has been any significant change, it has not been for the better. "If you speak to the public and ask them what they want, they want capacity," he said.
"Clearly, we will never get to a situation where there is a police officer on every street corner but SPF sees a substantial increase for 24/7 response policing as an absolute requirement." 'Poor' service
Witness statements "So that when they open their curtains and walk down the high street, they see a visible police presence.
The Scottish Government has said it is committed to making 1,000 more officers "available". "It actually does work and the public do like to see police officers on the beat where they get the benefit."
However, it has been criticised by opposition politicians who accuse the SNP of breaking an election promise to provide "1,000 more police". David Mulhern, chief executive of the Scottish Police Service Authority, said an expanded role for civilians could include taking statements from witnesses.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer has said he believes roles like taking witness statements should be carried out by civilians. But Mr Grant said civilian numbers had gone up by 60% over the past decade, adding: "The reality is that, overwhelmingly, jobs that can be done by support staff are being done at the moment."
David Mulhern, chief executive of the Scottish Police Service Authority, also argued that police community support officers should be introduced north of the border. A recent survey carried out by the Scottish Police Federation, which represents the vast majority of police officers in Scotland, suggested that 82% of those who replied felt there were too few or far too few officers in their area.
Almost 40% felt the police provided an "average" service to the public, while 34.4% thought they provided a "poor" or "very poor" service, it also claimed.