A LOCAL councillor has described a police decision to reveal the nationality of the perpetrator of a crime as “odd”.

And Liberal Democrat Catriona Bhatia later claimed it was the sort of information only a supporter of UKIP would find of interest.

The councillor for Tweeddale West spoke out after it was disclosed in a police report that a Spanish national had been charged with theft at a Peebles hotel.

“Why does the report need to mention the person’s nationality?” she said after the report had been read out at this month’s meeting of Peebles Community Council “As this person comes from an EU country he is quite entitled to live and work here and where he comes from has no relevance to the case. This strikes me as odd that it has been mentioned at all.” Police insisted it was not general policy to reveal a criminal’s nationality but in this case it was relevant.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “At the recent community council meeting in Peebles, reference was made to an accused person’s nationality in a crime report.

“This was intended by way of explanation for the accused being held in custody overnight for a theft - the accused had recently arrived in Scotland and at that time had no fixed address in the country.

“It represents excellent work by the officers involved in ensuring that the accused was present to answer the charge.” The report, read out by community beat officer Diane Sorrell, stated that a mobile phone and bankcard had been stolen from a private function in Peebles town centre.

The report went on: “Using the find my phone App the phone was located in Peebles and a local off duty police officer along with the complainer were able to assist in the detention of a Spanish national.” The man subsequently appeared in court and pleaded guilty to the offence and received a fine.

Later Councillor Bhatia said she did not wish to take the matter further with the police but admitted she might have to have a rethink if she came across any more instances of it.

“The officer at the meeting said she had not been responsible for that part of the report,” said Councillor Bhatia. “When I first heard it mentioned at the meeting I wasn’t going to say anything but then I thought I had to as it just didn’t seem right.

“It’s the sort of thing that only UKIP would have thought worthy of a mention.”