Police chief's warning over budget
East Lothian's new police chief has warned of future budget cuts which will have an impact on how the service is delivered.
Chief Superintendent Mark Williams (40), who lives in Dunbar, told the News that the force would have to "take the pain" like others in the public sector in the current financial climate.
But he stressed that planning was already under way about how to respond to the challenges ahead.
He said: "We are entering a really challenging period financially. We don't exactly know what that will mean.
Relationship
"Maybe not the next financial year but from 2011/12 onwards there will a period of significant challenge for the public sector in terms of its budget and the police are not immune to that.
"I think we will benefit from the close working relationship with East Lothian Council to manage ourselves through that challenging time."
Full report in East Lothian News, March 5, 2010 However, there is also a huge part for us to play gathering intelligence and, when I say intelligence, I don’t mean the dark areas of policing no-one knows about, I mean talking to the public and getting information from them and target those people who are making communities miserable — those who are dealing drugs, engaging in disorder, committing violent crimes and who are a threat to our youngsters and others. All of that goes hand in hand and all that must be delivered by us because the public expect it and have a right to expect it. That for me as a new commander is the focus and that is what I will try to deliver. I am very confident that we have an extremely professional, able, motivated and enthusiastic workforce who want to do that.”
He said the staffing levels in East Lothian were “healthier and more robust” than they have been for some years — as a result of the Scottish Government’s commitment to recruit 1,000 extra officers across Scotland which has filtered its way to East Lothian. He explained: “We have a very high proportion of young officers serving East Lothian and, as a result, I think we are in a strong position to deliver on those goals. I think that while we face some challenging financial times ahead, our goal will be to retain and sustain that frontline visible policing presence as best we possibly can throughout the next three to five years.”
Chief Supt Williams, a Dundee man, settled in Dunbar with his family six years ago. During his 16-year police career, he was commander for central and north Edinburgh, and the Force Communication Centre at Bilston. He has had responsibility for policing at the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood, and the portfolio for counter terrorism.
A keen marathon runner and skier, he said he “loved” living in Dunbar, adding: “East Lothian is a beautiful part of the world and is a great place to live. I am very proud to be the commander for East Lothian, particularly since I live there. It means a great deal to me and, in that sense, there is a genuine will on my part for East Lothian to be a great place to live.”
Staff Photo: 05/03/10/ELN/MARKWILLIAMS1
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Friday 18 May 2012
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