AN ARMY of cut-out cops could soon be popping up in towns and villages across East Lothian as police hold talks with local communities about their latest weapon in the fight against speeding.

‘Police Constables’ Jim and Jemima have been operating in Dunbar since May, where their presence on roadsides has proved an effective deterrent.

Now Police Scotland have said they are in discussions with a number of community councils about funding more of the life-sized cut-out officers in their towns.

Dunbar and East Linton ward’s PCs Jim and Jemima – acrylic cut-outs of officers holding speed guns – were funded by four community councils in the ward area: Dunbar, Dunpender, East Lammermuir and West Barns.

The cut-outs, which are often referred to as ‘Pop-up Bobs’, can be chained to lampposts to give approaching drivers the mistaken belief they are real-life law enforcers tracking their speed.

PC Jemima’s appearance in the Dunbar and East Linton ward is the first time a cut-out female ‘officer’ has been deployed in Scotland.

At a meeting of East Lothian Council’s Police, Fire and Community Safety Scrutiny Committee, it was revealed that the county pair had proved a hit.

Inspector Andrew Harborow of Police Scotland said: “The evidence I get from local community officers is that they are effective. Hopefully there are a number of other community councils looking to support us in purchasing more of the equipment.”

However, in response to a question from Councillor Jeremy Findlay about whether the cut-out pairs could be used on 60mph roads, he said they were keeping them for 20 to 30mph zones.

Earlier, the committee heard that the number of road traffic casualties reported to police had fallen by nearly 20 per cent over the last year with 186 in total, including two fatalities.

In the case of both fatalities, Insp Harborow reported that the cause of the incidents were “driver error”.