Under-fire police introducing dedicated community officers in bid to be more visible

Police chiefs have come under fire from local councillors and community councillors after changing their policing model in March last year.

Now, a review of local policing has resulted in dedicated, named community officers being appointed for every council ward – as well as the appointment of two police officers to work with young people.

There were angry scenes at Prestonpans Community Council last month when police were accused of being “reactive rather than proactive”.

Jimmy Yule, the community council chairman, said then that the loss of local officers with local knowledge had been a great loss.

He – and other community figures – have now welcomed the change in police policy.

Chief Inspector Matt Paden, Police Scotland’s local area commander for East Lothian, said: “I am firmly of the view that this model demonstrates that we are listening to the views of the public, using them to shape local policing to best fit the needs of the communities in East Lothian.”

Mr Yule said: “There is no doubt things worked better when we had a known community officer who worked in the town and was known. I am delighted they are looking at reintroducing them and are listening to people’s concerns.”

The existing policing model was introduced last year under former Chief Inspector Andy Clark, with 60 per cent of officers in the area assigned to response teams and 40 per cent placed in community teams. However, officers serving on the community teams admitted they were regularly being asked to cover response calls and it proved disruptive.

CI Paden, who took over as area commander in May last year, said it had become clear that the number of response officers needed to be higher and the community officers would now be “ringfenced” to ensure they were not taken away from their appointed roles. He said: “The new model will allow our community officers to get on with their roles in the communities.”

And he said the new community officers would provide “a more visible and engaging police presence”.

The decision to restructure was based on “significant engagement” with relevant officers, departments and stakeholders, he explained, and the changes were about providing a quality level of community policing with the most effective use of resources available.

The proposed new model will see 80 per cent of East Lothian’s officers assigned to response and 20 per cent given roles as dedicated, named community officers who will be appointed to each of East Lothian Council’s seven wards: Haddington & Lammermuir; Musselburgh East & Carberry; Musselburgh West; North Berwick Coastal; Preston/Seton/Gosford; Fa’side; and Dunbar & East Linton.

It also includes plans to introduce two youth community officers who will be working with schools and youth groups to provide a high-visibility presence within the school environment and local neighbourhoods.

The school liaison officers are proposed after 14 school parent councils and community groups urged police to bring them in. There are currently no school-link officers in East Lothian.

The youth community officers will have sole responsibility for liaising with schools but will also work in the community with young people, adopting an early intervention approach.

The dedicated community officers will, meanwhile, be the face of the police in local areas and the first point of contact for local engagement, including community meetings.

Their focus will be on local engagement, prevention of crime and anti-social behaviour, working to provide diversions and alternatives to such behaviour, and forging and improving community relations.

The new policing model will be trialled, with plans to review it in 10 months' times.

It will retain the two Community Action Teams – known as East Lothian Community Action Team and Musselburgh Group Action Team – which respond to emerging crime trends, carry out problem-solving work, target anti-social behaviour and other related local demands. And the two police ‘response hubs’ in Musselburgh and Haddington will also remain, affording a large presence of officers in both sides of the county.

It is unclear exactly how many officers are based in East Lothian – with police reluctant to divulge such information.

Councillor Tim Day, chairman of East Lothian Council’s police and fire committee, welcomed the change. He said: “I support Police Scotland’s decision to review their operational model, and particularly welcome their proposal to place greater emphasis on community officers. Having dedicated, named officers who are able to regularly attend community meetings is essential in building relationships and a presence in the community they serve.

“I am also pleased that the proposal allows for two new youth community officers who will provide an invaluable link with our schools, complementing the excellent prevention and diversionary work that already takes place.”

And Councillor Shamin Akhtar, East Lothian Council’s education spokeswoman, said: “This will enable Police Scotland to work with our young people in and after school placing a real focus on preventative work and building positive relationships with the communities they will be covering.”

Councillor Stuart Currie, SNP opposition leader, said the new model was the “right way forward” for policing in East Lothian.

He said: “It is also a very welcome step forward from Police Scotland, who have been shown to listen to our communities and act, which is much to their credit.”

Councillor David Berry, who has also been critical of community policing in the past, said: “I welcome this move and hope it is given the support to work. It is a move in the right direction.”

While Councillor John Caldwell added: “It will give a specialised response to youth issues that arise in each ward.”

Community councils also welcomed the decision. Sheila Chambers, chairwoman of Cockenzie and Port Seton Community Council said: “It is good news. I welcome the return of a known face to our meetings and in our community.”

And North Berwick Community Council chairman David Kellock said: “It will hopefully mean more support for the local community.”