Proposed police budget cuts are 'beyond the pale', says Caithness councillor
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PLANNED cuts to the police budget are "beyond the pale", according to a Caithness Highland councillor. Matthew Reiss, a Thurso and Northwest Caithness ward representative, hit out at the proposed reduction in funding and said it will impact on communities, although the far north is expected to be spared the cuts which will be made in other parts of the Highlands.
Councillor Reiss, a former senior police officer, expressed his concern at last week's meeting of the Castletown and District Community Council.
He spoke out amid fears that Police Scotland may have to cut 800 officers and staff by April 2024 while overall numbers could fall by more than 2,000 over the next four years if budgets are not increased.
Councillor Reiss said: "These cuts are beyond the pale and will not act as a deterrent to criminals. Caithness looks like it could be spared the cuts which other parts of the Highlands will see but it could impact here if something happens in Sutherland and local police are called there."
He claimed there is nothing more basic for a community than its police service and the other emergency services.
Councillor Reiss has previously expressed concern about the proposed cuts to Police Scotland's budget along with local MP, Jamie Stone and retired police officer, Iain Gregory, who is the co-founder of campaign group, Caithness Roads Recovery.
They are worried about the loss of 24 officers in the Highlands and three from the Islands and have claimed the "thin blue line is getting ever thinner."
As previously reported, councillor Reiss said people want to see police officers "walking and driving about" and argued it has "an immensely reassuring effect on the public."
Mr Gregory, a former area commander, said he is "deeply concerned" about the planned cuts.
When he came to Caithness in 1977, the county had police stations at Dunbeath, Lybster, Watten, Castletown, Halkirk, and Reay.
Mr Gregory said: "Wick and Thurso offices were open 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, with a sergeant in each office, both with a team of four PCs, along with CID and community involvement officers, and numerous support staff. There were listed phone numbers for all the stations, and the public had immediate access to local officers."
The rural stations have all been closed and walk-in access across the Highlands is "a thing of the past."
Caithness, Sutherland and easter Ross MP, Jamie Stone, said he was "shocked but not surprised " by the proposed cuts to the police budget.
The Scottish Government says it has increased police funding year-on-year since 2016-17, investing more than £11.6 billion since the creation of Police Scotland in 2013.
