Police Authority welcomes Additional £60 million from SNP Government to keep Communities Safe

The Scottish Police Authority has welcomed provision of an additional £60 million that provides the organisation with £1.3 billion for the coming financial year.

Announcing the SNP’s draft budget proposals for 2021/22 in Holyrood, Scotland’s Finance Secretary, Kate Forbes MSP, outlined the funding.

A further £15 million in 2021/22 alone, will mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the policing budget.

Welcoming the announcement, David Crichton, Interim Chair of the Scottish Police Authority, said:

"The Authority very much welcomes the draft budget.

“We have said consistently that the financial sustainability of policing depends upon addressing a structural deficit. The additional £60 million in revenue funding achieves that.

“It represents a strong vote of confidence in the Authority and Police Scotland and particularly recognises the outstanding performance of the police service in protecting the country’s safety and wellbeing during the pandemic.”

Kenneth Gibson MSP commented:

“Scotland is safer under the SNP, with crime last year at its second lowest level since 1974.

“In the midst of a global pandemic, Police Scotland is delivering invaluable support to communities here in North Ayrshire and across the country, so it’s great to see them given a funding boost by the SNP Government.”

ENDS