THE number of community police officers in the Borders has been slashed from 18 to 11 as part of a package of cut-backs, it has emerged.

In addition to the near-halving of officer numbers it has also been revealed that the region’s designated crime prevention officer post has been axed.

The cut-backs were unveiled to members of Scottish Borders Council’s Cheviot Area Partnership last week.

Community Sergeant Alison Granger, who covers the south and east of the Borders, admitted that some members of the public would be alarmed at the cut-backs but said it was “something we just had to do”.

She said: “We’ve had a period of restructure recently and unfortunately we’ve had to cut posts in community policing. We’ve had to reduce the community officers in the Scottish Borders from 18 to 11.

“Some of the posts that were cut weren’t filled anyway so it might not be as drastic as it sounds.

“We’re hoping as much as possible to keep disruption to a minimum and to keep our service running as smoothly as possible.

“I know that it will alarm folks that we have cut posts but obviously with the current climate it has been an absolute necessity. It’s not only in the Scottish Borders and a lot of people will understand that it is something that we have just had to do.

“We have also lost our crime prevention officer for the Scottish Borders but that does not mean he won’t be doing prevention work any more, he will carry on doing prevention work but within a community post and so prevention work will still be going on. That’s across the division, we’ve also lost prevention officers in the Lothians.”

Jedburgh Community Council vice chairman Graham Hayward said the cut-backs were “extremely disappointing”, adding: “This is sad and we’ll have to watch what happens with the Community Action Team (CAT) going forward. I believe that comes up for review next year.”