MSP calls for specialist officers to tackle crime

Specialist"community and crime prevention officers" should be created to tackle local crime, Scottish Labour has said.

- CRAIG PATON AND EDEL KENEALY

Community policing Paul O'Kane MSP outside Mill Street station which was threatened with closure in 2021

The community officers, the party argues, would be deployed into every council ward in Renfrewshire and work with local representatives, respond to local incidents and look for ways to reduce crime rates.

Crime prevention officers would also work with local schools, retailers and community groups in high-crime areas.

Scottish Labour will roll out the new posts by the end of the next parliamentary term, if the party wins the next election, but will lead a debate in the Scottish Parliament calling for the implementation regardless.

The call comes after figures released last week showed officer numbers reduced by almost 100 in the year to December 31, while retail crime and shoplifting offences have soared in Renfrewshire.