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22nd April 2008

MSP Seeks Fairer Police Funding

The resources available to Grampian police and the burdens placed upon the force were highlighted by Northeast MSP Alex Johnstone in the Scottish Parliament last week.  Contributing to a debate on a committee report published earlier in the year, the MSP brought to the attention of Ministers and Parliament once again, the mismatch of resources devoted to supporting police activities in the Grampian area.

Speaking in the debate, Mr Johnstone pointed out that, “It remains the case that Grampian has only 8 per cent of Scotland's police officers, to cover an area that has 10 per cent of Scotland's people.”

He went on to tell members why current resources must be re-assessed saying, “First, there is a rapidly growing population, so the required numbers are almost always out of date. Secondly, the region is home to the North Sea oil industry, which is Scotland and the United Kingdom's most important energy industry. Responsibility for policing that high-profile industry offshore and on, with its exposure to possible terrorist action, is such that additional resources are necessary if we are to adequately protect the industry.”

The MSP concluded his remarks by turning to another task performed by our policemen and women saying, “There is also a long-standing complaint that the responsibility that Grampian Police takes for royal protection duties over and above the duties that are undertaken by the royal protection group means that additional costs are incurred when the royal family is resident on Deeside.”