Bobbies On Beat To Double

The number of beat bobbies pounding North-east streets will nearly double in just six months. But the move could also see residents waiting longer for some crimes to be investigated.Grampian Police is to merge its north and south Aberdeenshire divisions in an effort to free up more officers for community policing. Superintendent Bill Archibald, pictured below, the new division's operational commander, said using resources more efficiently and boosting the current tally of 34 beat bobbies could only benefit communities.He said: "There will be no reduction in the number of front line officers but the way they're deployed will be changed. There will be community police officers in stations that don't have one at the moment, and growth in other areas."I'm confident that in the next six months we'll see 50 or 60 community-based officers." You can read the rest of the report here.

Aberdeen First would like, I am sure with all the other law abiding residents like to thank Superintendent Bill Archibald and his colleagues for having the drive to give us all what we want, "more Bobbies on the beat".

Aberdeen first is confident that the initial fear that some lesser crimes will take longer to be investigated is a burden that will be short lived. Because we firmly believe that Grampian police are moving in a forward direction, and the reduction in crime due to actually having more officers on the beat will quickly offset any initial delays in investigating lesser crimes.

Hopefully the knock on effect of this reduction in crime will be that even more officers will be available to go on the beat. A win win situation especially if this is backed up with longer and tougher sentences for criminals, tougher sentences along with a more visible police presence will act as a deterrent.

It's good and reassuring as a local to see Grampian Police leading the way in giving us safer communities. Maybe other Police forces across the country will take note.

Support our police in the fight against crime. You can visit the Grampian Police site here.

or telephone 0845- 600- 5-700.