Ayrshire's extra cops to boost safety

Jul 2 2008 By Colin Rutherford

AYRSHIRE has 32 new community police officers.

The deployment of the additional officers — bringing the number of community cops in Ayrshire to almost 100 — was launched at Kilmarnock’s Dean Castle last week.

Divisional commander, Chief Superintendent Bill Fitzpatrick, said: “For want of a better phrase, these are real police officers, who will be working within communities to do what the public would recognise as real.

“On that basis, they are expected to make a huge contribution to community safety and provide visible reassurance.

“This substantial increase in numbers confirms that we are serious about once again becoming a fixed and familiar presence in the communities of Ayrshire.”

Chief Superintendent Fitzpatrick said that the new officers’ priorities would be disorder, violence and drugs.

“They are there to make sure that the public, particularly vulnerable individuals and groups, are protected,” he said.

The divisional commander said that it was essential that the new community officers quickly become known and accessible to everyone and that they become accountable to the people who live and work in the communities they police.

Said Chief Superintendent Fitzpatrick: “Bringing offenders into the justice system, enforcing measures of control and ultimately getting individuals out of offending behaviour will be key measures of success for the community teams.”

l Strathclyde Police’s Ayrshire Division has received a business excellence award.

The award, from Quality Scotland, follows a rigorous assessment involving senior management and front line officers.

Said deputy divisional commander Superintendent Dick Stevens: “I would like to thank both police officers and police staff across the division. It was due to their continuous support and commitment to the service we deliver which made the success of the bid and the success of Ayrshire division.

“I am delighted the division won this award, as it demonstrates to staff and our customers that we are serious about continuous improvement within Ayrshire.”