This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Pledge to cut red tape in crime-fighting
24/01/2002
First Minister Jack McConnell today pledged to cut red tape in a move designed to get more police officers fighting crime.
Speaking after a fact-finding visit to Edinburgh's West End Police Station with Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace, Mr McConnell said he was determined to help the police deliver what the public wants - more police officers spending more time policing.
During the visit to the police station, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister met Lothian and Borders new Chief Constable Paddy Tomkins and spoke with officers from a range of ranks about a variety of policing issues.
Mr McConnell said:
"We are determined to see more police out and about in their communities tackling crime. That means we must make better use of technology and civilian staff to carry out non-policing duties as well as cutting paperwork. Too much bureaucracy gets in the way of real police work.
"Police numbers are currently at an all-time high - but what really matters to people is what police officers are able to do. More police officers actually policing, including high profile policing, will help make Scotland's streets safer but, just as importantly, it will also help reduce people's fear of crime.
"Next month Jim Wallace and I will meet all Scotland's Chief Constables and I want to discuss with them ways in which we can work together to cut red tape. By focussing more on delivery, we believe we can help our police forces deliver even better services."
Mr Wallace said:
"We are working hard to get more officers out from behind their desks to do the jobs for which they were trained. This is what police chiefs and rank-and-file officers want - and we are committed to delivering. In Lothian and Borders, a new high-tech communications centre - funded by the Scottish Executive - will see the equivalent of 89 extra officers taking part in frontline duties.
"This week we also announced that by contracting out prisoner escort duties, police officers will have more time to concentrate on frontline duties. Initiatives like these will help us get the best from our highly-trained and dedicated police officers."