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SNP urged to boost police numbers Police bodies clash over reforms
(about 2 hours later)
Scotland's police officers have called on the government to immediately deliver on its plan to boost numbers. Two policing bodies have clashed over a call to give force civilian staff a greater role in operations.
The Scottish Police Federation also said a wider look at the role of policing was needed. The newly-formed Scottish Police Service Authority said non-police officers could take witness statements or carry out door-to-door inquiries.
But it played down suggestions from the newly-formed Scottish Police Service Authority that a wider role could be given to civilian staff. The Scottish Police Federation strongly disagreed, instead urging the government to deliver more officers.
The federation's comments came amid an inquiry being carried out on the issue by Holyrood's justice committee. Scottish ministers have backed what they described as the "civilianisation" of certain duties.
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. The comments came amid an inquiry by Holyrood's justice committee into the issue of police resources.
The public do like to see police officers on the beat where they get the benefit Alasdair GilliesScottish Police Federation In robberies for example, I think we could get other investigators involved David MulhernScottish Police Service Authority
"My point is that we absolutely need 1,000 additional officers right now to allow us to undertake that review," he told MSPs. David Mulhern, chief executive of the Scottish Police Service Authority, told BBC Scotland that an expanded role for civilians could also include arranging ID parades.
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." "In robberies for example, I think we could get other investigators involved," he said. "Not necessarily that full range of police powers, but still very highly skilled, very highly trained in particular disciplines.
The comments were echoed by Alasdair Gillies, secretary of the federation's inspectors' central committee. "All of those things could be done so much more effectively by someone other than police officers and would free up police officers to concentrate on the much more important criminal investigation matters."
"If you speak to the public and ask them what they want, they want capacity," he said. Joe Grant, of the Scottish Police Federation, 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.
'Poor' service 'Genuine improvement'
"So that when they open their curtains and walk down the high street, they see a visible police presence. Responding to Mr Mulhern's comments, he said: "Support staff do an important job, but the reality is that if there's a crime or an incident, you need the skills, experience and knowledge of someone who's been involved in policing then that's for a police officer to do.
"It actually does work and the public do like to see police officers on the beat where they get the benefit." "So I would disagree vehemently in that particular view."
David Mulhern, chief executive of the Scottish Police Service Authority, said an expanded role for civilians could include taking statements from witnesses. A recent survey carried out by the 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.
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."
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.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.
A Scottish Government spokesman said the SNP administration wanted to see a "genuine improvement" in the delivery of policing.
"As well as substantial additional recruitment the details of which will be announced in the context of our budget, we want to see the smart redeployment of existing officers through initiatives such as the civilianisation of certain duties and improved retention," he said.