Officers will stay on the streets, pledges head

The head of policing in the Highlands and islands has pledged to keep police officers out on the streets and not in civilian office roles.

His comments came as fears were raised officers would be used to fill civilian police jobs as the planned £1.7billion savings in the new single Scottish police force start to bite from next month.

Black Isle councillor David Alston told Highland Council’s community safety committee: “Across all the emergency services it’s clear that they will be making substantial savings and that will come out of support staff and back office staff.

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