Liberal Democrat Justice spokesman Robert Brown has said the SNP Government must come clean on the long term future of police numbers.

New figures were released today, showing a rise in police numbers to 1,175. But last week Kenny MacAskill was unable to clarify what the SNP are planning to do before the Holyrood elections next year.

Commenting, Robert Brown said:

“The rise in the number of police officers by 1,000 was strongly supported by all parties who made sure the SNP Government didn't weasel out of their commitment. The new figures are obviously to be welcomed.

“But it is still not clear how much Kenny MacAskill has tried to gerrymander these figures ahead of an election, nor indeed whether police budgets are able to keep numbers at this level.

“Police Chiefs were apparently told by the SNP Government that they should hold off reducing staff numbers until after the Westminster spending review - and their explanations on this were totally unconvincing.

“Police numbers are still in doubt. The Scottish Government cannot rig police numbers only to watch them fall after the election.

“Investment in effective frontline police officers saves money if it stops crime. All the evidence is that the extra police numbers have made a big difference.”