In one of the biggest moves of its kind in Scotland, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership (GCPP) and its ten Local Community Planning Partnership (LCPP) Boards have teamed-up with Strathclyde Police to fund 100 new community police officers throughout Glasgow.

The initiative comes only three months after 10,000 residents took part in the biggest ever community survey and put more ‘police on the beat’ as their No.1 priority.

The Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police, Stephen House stated, “The new Community Policing Model will be the hard edge of policing and officers will concentrate on enforcement and working with partners to develop long term solutions to community problems.”

The launch of the initiative took place in Glasgow City Chambers and was well attended by Strathclyde Police,many Councillors including the Chairs of the LCPP Boards and the Leader of Glasgow City Council.

Councillor Steven Purcell, Leader of Glasgow City Council, endorsed the Chief Constable’s positive view by saying, “I am delighted that West and Central & West LCPP Boards have been able to fund these additional officers. They will make a real difference to our communities by taking on responsibility for dealing with local concerns and crime.”

The 10 officers for both the West and Central & West areas funded from the Fairer Scotland Fund, will become part of the greatly enlarged Community Policing Model within Strathclyde Police. These officers will patrol on foot or on bikes to be accessible to both young and old in the community and will be the bridge between the community and GCPP’s partner groups such as the Fire Service, GHA and local residents’ groups.

At the launch Councillor Paul Carey, Chair of the West LCPP Board stated, “We know from the residents’ survey that more Bobbies on the beat was a top priority for local people. I am in no doubt that these new officers will provide the high visibility that residents want to see on our streets and help reduce crime and antisocial behaviour in the area.”

Bailie Gordon Matheson, Chair of the Central & West LCPP Board, also in attendance at the launch stated that, “Local residents have repeatedly said to me that they want more police on the beat, and that is exactly what they will now get. I am delighted to have been able to financially support the joint-effort to increase the number of police officers within every community served by the CPP - from Drygate, Townhead and Garnethill, right across Anderston and Partick, to Jordanhill in the west.”

Welcoming the additional officers, Councillor Paul Rooney, Convener of Strathclyde Police Board also said, “This is good news for the communities and residents. The new Police Officers will provide additional support to help tackle and reduce incidences of antisocial behaviour in the area.”

When the initiative is fully up and running each of the West and the Central & West LCPPs will have teams of officers dedicated and committed to each of its multi-members ward areas. These teams will take ownership of community concerns and crime in the area and will work as part of joint problem-solving teams to respond proactively to local needs. Police Sub Divisional Officers will also continue to work directly with the Chair of the LCPP to ensure that all aspects of local life are considered.