Lib Dems Attack SNP's Broken Promise on Police for North East

12.00.00am GMT Tue 13th Nov 2007

North East Scottish Liberal Democrat Alison McInnes slammed the hypocrisy of the SNP after the Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill announced that the Scottish government will now only recruit an additional 500 officers nationwide meaning only 43 more officers across the North East after previously promising 87 extra officers based on equal proportional rise for Scottish forces.

McInnes said "Only two months ago Brain Adam was lauding the achievements of the SNP government, reiterating their plan to recruit 87 additional officers for the North East and how it was a key commitment from the SNP to tackle crime and make people feel safer.

"While Nigel Don agreed in the chamber only last month that the government had responsibility to deliver on its manifesto pledge for 1000 extra police across Scotland.

"However now the penny has dropped and Kenny MacAskill has admitted the North East will only receive an additional 43 officers and not the 87 promised.

"Will Brian Adam and Nigel Don do the honourable thing, stand up for the North East and put pressure on the Cabinet Secretary to meet 'this key commitment to tackle crime' or will the North East SNP members abandon their pledge to the Scottish people just as the Cabinet Secretary for Justice has done?"