THE top half of a cut-out police officer was stolen while she was ‘on duty’.

Police in Dunbar use the cut-outs – known as Jim and Jemima – as tools to try to deter people from speeding in the ward.

However, they are now appealing for witnesses after half of one of the officers was pinched.

Constable Gavin Ross, Dunbar and East Linton community officer, highlighted the incident in a report to the town’s community council on Monday.

He said: “On the afternoon of July 25, pop-ups Jim and Jemima were sited on Belhaven Road near to the entrance to Belhaven Hill School.

“Between 8.30pm and 9.40pm. Jemima has had her chain or lock forced and her top half has been stolen.”

The officer said there was no doubt that the damage was caused deliberately.

He had checked the school grounds for the missing half and spoke to neighbours in case they had seen anything.

PC Ross told the Courier: “It is very, very disappointing.

“It was paid for by four community councils in the area and I am convinced they do make a positive contribution in slowing people down in the areas where we get complaints about speeding.”

The new ‘officers’ were introduced to East Lothian in February last year, with each cut-out shown holding a pro-laser speed gun.

Community councils in the ward shared the cost of the cut-outs, which are priced at about £400 for the two.

At that time, PC Ross said: “I fully expect some negative feedback saying it is policing on the cheap but I have got my response prepared, which is this is extra, above and beyond, what we will do.

“We will be out doing more speed checks.

“There is no way we can police it all and this is an extra assistance.”