Responding to letters from Cllr Norman Hampshire and the Association of East Lothian Community Councils to Justice Secretary Neil Gray highlighting the current shortfall in local policing numbers and calling for an increase in police resources, Douglas Alexander MP said:
“It’s very clear that policing in East Lothian has been hollowed out over recent years, not only in terms of police officer numbers, but also through the closure of stations in Prestonpans, Dunbar and North Berwick.
“Therefore, I share the concerns raised by Norman Hampshire and the AELCC on the impact of these cuts and fully support their calls for an increase in policing resource in East Lothian.
“The UK Government has delivered a record devolution funding settlement for the Scottish Government and that funding must now be passed on to local policing and other vital frontline public services.”