A local MSP is calling for the recruitment of more police officers in East Renfrewshire.
Eastwood representative, Jackson Carlaw has said that the Scottish Government should consider plans to hire almost 20 new local officers and to support the “heroic” police team that is already in place within East Renfrewshire.
Mr Carlaw’s calls come after it was revealed that policing numbers reached their lowest level for fifteen years in 2023.
New data has also revealed that there was a 5 percent increase in the number of recorded crime incidents in Scotland between December 2022 and December 2023.
To bolster the police workforce, the Scottish Conservatives have said that 1,000 new officers should be hired across Scotland to tackle criminal incidents in local communities.
East Renfrewshire’s proportionate share of this figure is 18 new officers.
Mr Carlaw has previously raised concerns about reports of anti-social behaviour at the Maidenhill development in Newton Mearns and this includes two incidents of fire raising within the grounds of the primary school and nursery.
Mr Carlaw contacted the local police team about the incidents and he praised the response from officers.
Scottish Conservative MSP for Eastwood, Jackson Carlaw said:
“In various parts of Newton Mearns such as Maidenhill, there has been hugely concerning reports of anti-social behaviour and such disruption has no place in our local communities.
“In East Renfrewshire, we have a heroic team of police officers who always go the extra mile to investigate reports of potential criminal incidents and provide outstanding support to local residents including the handling of previous incidents in Maidenhill.
“To support our highly professional, dedicated and hard-working police team in East Renfrewshire, Scottish Conservatives have brought forward proposals that would result in the recruitment of nearly 20 new local officers.
“This would boost the number of police officers available in East Renfrewshire to tackle key law and order problems such as anti-social behaviour.
“I urge the Scottish Government to seriously engage with our plans to boost the policing workforce.”