A CALL has been made for more community police officers on East Lothian’s streets as reports of anti-social behaviour have “sky-rocketed”.

Concerns about youth-related issues in Haddington and Prestonpans have regularly been raised at community meetings.

The issue has now been highlighted in the Scottish Parliament by former East Lothian councillor Craig Hoy, a South Scotland MSP.

In the Scottish Parliament’s debating chamber, Mr Hoy questioned Keith Brown MSP, Scotland’s cabinet secretary for justice and veterans, on policing in East Lothian.

East Lothian Courier: Craig Hoy, South Scotland MSPCraig Hoy, South Scotland MSP

He said: “In East Lothian, reports of anti-social behaviour have sky-rocketed.

“Residents have reported cars damaged and homes egged in Prestonpans, with youth-related anti-social behaviour becoming a growing concern for residents of Haddington town centre.

“So with data revealing the number of ‘bobbies on the beat’ has dropped to its lowest level since 2008, will the minister join me in calling for more community police in East Lothian?”

The number of police officers in Scotland is up from 2007 levels but has dropped in Lothian and Borders from 964 officers in 2013 to 882 in March 2022.

Problem Solving Partnerships (PSP) have been set up by East Lothian Council in the Preston Seton Gosford ward and Haddington town centre.

The groups consist of the local authority, emergency services and community groups working together to tackle youth-related anti-social behaviour.

A further multi-agency group is meeting to tackle youth-related anti-social behaviour in Dunbar, although it is not classed as a PSP.

East Lothian Courier: An incident at Marmaris, on Haddington High Street, was highlighted earlier this yearAn incident at Marmaris, on Haddington High Street, was highlighted earlier this year

A Scottish Government spokesperson stated that recorded crime was at its lowest levels in almost 40 years.

They said: “Police officer numbers in Scotland remain significantly up from 2007, and are favourable relative to elsewhere in the UK, with around 32 officers per 10,000 population in Scotland compared to around only 23 officers per 10,000 population in England and Wales.

“Police Scotland has already recruited an intake of approximately 300 officers in April this year and intends to continue to recruit around 300 probationers each quarter throughout the remainder of 2022.

“Over the long term, there has been a 36 per cent reduction in police-recorded, non-sexual violent crime. The proportion of adults experiencing crime has decreased, with adults in Scotland less likely to have experienced crime than those in England and Wales during 2019/20.”