'Tweeddale in greater danger from criminals'

David O'Leary • Published 28 Jan 2011 09:30 1 Comment

POLICING changes in Tweeddale have been slammed by a force insider.

Superintendent Murdo MacIver recently stated that a shake-up of the force's structure would result in no cuts to the number of frontline officers across the region.

But these claims have been rubbished this week.

Recent changes have seen the post of Peebles Inspector being scrapped after Stewart Sandilands left the role.

His duties have instead been passed to Inspector Michael Wynne of Galashiels, who takes charge of the newly-formed Northern Policing Area encompassing Tweeddale, Galashiels, Tweedbank and Melrose.

A move which a police insider claims amounts to cuts and the short-changing of Tweeddale: "On day one of this new restructure an officer who is based at Peebles started their shift at another station over 20 miles away and has not been seen on the streets of Tweeddale since.

"A week later there was no night duty based in Tweeddale, so in effect the nearest officer was over 20 miles away. And a day later the few officers that remain at Peebles could not carry out their duties as two of their vehicles had been taken to Galashiels.

"These are just a few of numerous examples. Superintendent MacIver, this sounds very much like cuts?"

He continued: "It doesn't matter what spin is put on this, the bottom line is Tweeddale has lost a number of officers from its area. There has been limited cost savings in this exercise and it places the communities of Tweeddale in greater danger from criminals.

"Were our elected members consulted? Were the officers on the front line consulted and was the community that is clearly so close to the Chief Constables heart consulted? I have to strongly suggest no to all three.

"The already thin blue line has almost became non-existent in this area of Scotland."

However Superintendent MacIver, who is presently also Temporary Divisional Commander, feels this not to be the case at all.

He said: "The divisional restructure has been in place for less than three weeks and has already attracted positive feedback particularly from officers.

"Call demand and resource allocation have featured as key strands of our restructure and the model now in place for policing the Tweeddale area gives greater response resilience at times of particular need.

"This coupled with our commitment to an increase in the provision of dedicated community beat officers serves to highlight our pledge to the continued policing of the Tweeddale area.

"In respect of consultation, we delivered presentations to all elected members and local councillors in Tweeddale emphasising our reassurance of no reduction in frontline constable numbers which received broad support.

"In summary the number of constables in Tweeddale at the start of our new model on January 10, 2011 was exactly the same as those before the change on January 9, 2011."

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 28 Jan 11

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  Only Me
  Unregistered User
  Feb 1, 12:13
  Report comment

  Well done to this insider, who will no doubt now be the subject of a rigorous witch hunt.
  
  How dare they tell the public the Truth tut tut.
  
  Now to sit back and wait for the Police Management Whitewash deny everything policy.
  
  Regardless of Supt MacIvers assurances to the contrary, the public are not stupid, they can see with their own eyes the difference in the number of times they see a Police Officer on foot, if at all! or even a set of shoulders driving by on patrol, compared to 10 15 years ago even, when it was local officers who lived beside you in the community, they knew your family and you knew theirs, they new everything that was going on or at least they knew somebody who knew!
  
  Another backward step by the police! for goodness sake why can't they keep it simple,
  
  I bet they have bobbies on the beat on paper for the politicians to see, but in reality, those officers simply do not exisit.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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