Chief Constable staying on board

Lothian and Borders Police Board have welcomed the decision by David Strang to stay on as Chief Constable.

Mr Strang has been in charge of Lothian and Borders Police since 2007 and his five year contract was due to expire on 31 March 2012. However with a single police force expected to be established in 2013 the Lothian and Borders Police Board asked the Scottish Government for his contract to be extended for another year.

This was approved last week and a report outlining this will be discussed at next week’s police board meeting on 30 January 2012. During Mr Strang’s five years in charge recorded crime has fallen from 78,000 to 60,000 while detection rates have also increased.

Lothian and Borders Police Board Convenor, Councillor Iain Whyte, welcomed the news.

He said: “The Board is delighted that David Strang has decided to continue to lead Lothian and Borders Police through to the creation of a single force in Scotland. During his five years in charge crime has dropped and detection rates have increased which is testament to his strong leadership and emphasis on partnership working. He has shown a particular commitment to community policing as evidenced through the new Safer Neighbourhood teams which are having a positive impact in our communities. I look forward to continuing to work with David Strang to ensure that the force and our communities are ready for the challenges that lie ahead.”

The contract extension comes just a month after a strategic report into Lothian and Borders Police and Lothian and Borders Police Board by Audit Scotland and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland highlighted many areas of positive work being carried out.