FUNDING cuts to police in East Lothian are under “close scrutiny” after anti-social behaviour incidents rose by 20 per cent.

A police report on the increase in such incidents cites the decision by East Lothian Council to withdraw funding for up to 10 police officers as a possible factor.

The report, presented to councillors by Chief Inspector Matt Paden, Local Area Police Commander, sets out possible causes for the increase in anti-social behaviour and disorder, one of which is attributed to the “service level agreement covering the current financial year” which “provides funding for three officers and one anti-social behaviour officer where previously 13 officers were dedicated to targeting anti-social behaviour”.

It adds: “Any correlation between recent increases in anti-social behaviour and funding reductions will remain under close scrutiny.”

The report also revealed a council decision to withdraw some of its night-time noise service over parts of the weekend, in February this year, which created 100 more incidents for police to deal with.

East Lothian Council cut its police spending by £400,000 this year, reducing the number of council-funded police officers from 13 to three, with one additional anti-social behaviour officer.

The quarterly crime report from CI Paden to the council’s police, fire and community safety scrutiny committee yesterday (Wednesday) revealed that anti-social behaviour incidents were up by 20 per cent to 2,910, while disorder incidents had increased by 11.9 per cent compared to the same time last year, to 2,166.

Figures also showed that the number of serious assaults more than doubled, from nine to 24.

Hate crime saw a 57 per cent rise from 21 to 33. Two-thirds of the crimes reported involved race, with nearly a third involving sexual orientation and a small number relating to religion and disability. Police said an increase in third party reporting sites meant more hate crimes were being reported.

There was an increase in violent crime from 28 to 44, but domestic housebreaking rose by just 1.4 per cent. The police report also reported housebreaking detection rates down by 21 per cent to just 25 per cent, but added: “Enquiries have identified one culprit who has recently been charged with five domestic housebreaking offences, with additional investigations ongoing in respect of eight further offences.

“This significant result would represent an increase in detection of just under 15 per cent of all housbreaking crimes reported in East Lothian.”

Tom Shearer, the council’s head of communities, referred to funding changes in a report to the committee, saying: “Any correlation between the recent increase in anti-social behaviour complaints made to Police Scotland and the reduction in the number of funded officers from 13 to four – officers whose sole focus was/is to prevent/tackle anti-social behaviour – remains the subject of ongoing scrutiny.”

He also revealed that one officer lost was the police and statistics officer, whose job it was to inform the council and community and police partnerships of analysis which allowed them to decided when and where to deploy resources.

Kenny Black, the council’s Safer Communities team leader, said: “I think it is too early to arrive at a final view of whether there is a correlation between the funding of police officers and number of anti-social behaviour incidents reported.”

When questioned about the decision to cut police funding, committee convenor Councillor Tim Day said: “It was the view of the administration that, in line with other local authority decisions, they should reduce the money paid to police. Ultimately policing is the responsibility of Police Scotland, although we will work with them.”

Police in East Lothian have been targeting youth anti-social behaviour in recent weeks under Operation Wolfcastle.

They revealed they had reintroduced parental advisory letters, issuing 64 over the last three months.

The letters are sent to parents whose children have been seen by police behaving in an anti-social manner or who are at locations which have become ‘hotspots’ for complaints.

Chief Inspector Paden said: “Police Scotland and East Lothian Council continually review best practice and, following recent changes to the service level agreement, have reviewed and reshaped a number of processes, including the issuing of parental advisory letters.”