This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New recruits for Strathclyde Police
07/02/2005
The Justice Minister today welcomed 60 new recruits to Strathclyde Police - Scotland's largest police force.
During the visit Cathy Jamieson outlined how forces are using record investment in the police service to continue to maintain the record number of police officers now in service across Scotland.
This investment includes an extra £4.5m by 2007-08 - part of the 17 per cent increase in police grant-aided expenditure announced in October 2004 - to enable forces to bring forward recruitment in 2006-07 and 2007-08 to counter a surge in police officer retirements towards the end of the decade.
Ms Jamieson said:
"This Executive is working hard to protect our communities and prevent and detect crime. Central to that effort is ensuring that the police service is fully equipped, resourced and supported.
"Between 1999-2000 and 2004-05, investment in the police increased by 31 per cent - more than twice the rate of inflation and, in October 2004, I announced that police grant-aided expenditure over the next three years would increase by 17 per cent.
"As part of that increase, the Executive will be investing £1.5 million in 2006-7 rising to £4.5 million in 2007-08 to enable forces throughout Scotland to increase their intake of new recruits and so better manage their workforce requirements against future retirements. I expect this investment to lead to more police being targeted towards frontline duties, like detecting and preventing crime.
"I would like to wish today's new recruits and probationers every success in their future careers. These new police officers will become the future of Scotland's Police Service. A future committed to the creation of a safer Scotland with less crime and a reduced fear of crime."
Deputy Chief Constable Ricky Gray Assistant Secretary of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland said:
"ACPOS very much welcomes the funding allocated by the Executive to boost recruitment in advance of a very significant increase in expected retirals.
"We are delighted the Executive has listened to and acknowledged the concerns expressed by ACPOS about not just the inevitable loss of officers but more importantly the loss of experienced officers. That was always going to be harder for Forces to manage.
"The extra money will allow additional recruitment to take place in 2007/8. This will ensure that when we are hit with the biggest expected amount of retirals in 2010, we have experienced and trained officers ready to take their place."