Published: Friday, 30th July, 2010 9:30am

Frontline police officers to be spared

Chief Superintendent Graham Sinclair

THE Borders' new top cop has vowed to maintain the number of frontline officers in the face of budget cuts.

Superintendent Murdo MacIver took over the role of leading G Division following the secondment of Chief Superintendent Graham Sinclair to police headquarters.

Sinclair has been recalled to Fettes to help in identifying how the force will cut £43 million from its budget.

Superintendent MacIver said: "Due to projected cuts in policing budgets a restructuring programme is currently being carried out and will be implemented in the next six to nine months.

"As a result of this review there will be a reduction in supervising posts in order to retain frontline policing."

This is also the view taken by local MSP, Jeremy Purvis. He said: "Frontline public facing policing must be protected as much as possible, so backroom posts should be streamlined to achieve savings.

"Also, we in the Borders have long benefited from strong leadership within G Division over the years and that is why I feel it it most important that the post of divisional commander is retained."

Speculation has long been mounting that the post is earmarked to be lost in the forthcoming cuts.

At present Chief Super Graham Sinclair will in fact not be replaced as divisional commander during his absence.

Instead E Division's Chief Superintendent Mark Williams and Assistant Chief Constable Mike McCormack will provide assistance and support to Superintendent MacIver and the Borders Divisional Management Team.

A spokesperson for Lothian and Borders Police said: "Proposals to review our structures right across the force are being developed, however these will only be considered once the force is made aware of the level of spending reduction required. Thereafter we can consider the best way to address the need to make savings."

Speaking of the reshuffle, local councillor and member of the Lothian and Borders Police Board, Gavin Logan, said: "Even though Graham Sinclair has been our Divisional Commander for only a year, he has made his mark and will be missed.

"In the last year crime figures in the Borders have come down and detection rates are up. My fellow board member Trevor Jones and I have enjoyed working with Graham and I am sure that his successor, Murdo McIvor, will keep up the good work."