Goldie: Keeping Scotland safe is my priority

Addressing the Scottish Police Federation in Aviemore this morning, Annabel Goldie, Scottish Conservative Leader, said:

"I am proud of my role in giving you 1,000 extra colleagues, out on our streets, detecting, deterring, arresting and helping.

"And yes, that means I won a battle with the other parties.

"I triumphed over those who didn't want any extra police and I triumphed over those who would only have delivered 500.

"I gave an ultimatum to the SNP government: 'Forget fobbing Scotland off with your broken police pledge – and deliver the full 1,000 extra police or the budget deal is off'.

"I argued, they bowed, and we delivered. The thin blue line was strengthened.

"And so the challenge in the next parliament is to make sure that these hard won gains – 1,000 extra police and lower crime – are kept.

"Today, I am not going to promise you anything I cannot deliver.

"But I can promise you that I will not back any budget which does not maintain the funding for the 1,000 extra police. No ifs, no buts, no cuts.

"And in the next parliament I will fight to right a wrong which has gone on for too long. We must restore honesty in sentencing and end automatic early release.

"And before my opponents rush to remind you that we brought it in – yes we did. And we passed an Act to repeal in 14 years ago, an Act left to gather dust by Labour and since then every time we have tabled amendments to scrap automatic early release we have been blocked by the others.

"But there is more I want to do. We will restore the rights of the courts to hand down short term sentences. And we will transform rehabilitation of offenders in jail and outside of jail. And yes – for those who could benefit from a community sentence, they will be meaningful and no soft touch.

"Like you, I get angry when you do all you can to catch the criminals – and then they walk free to strike again.

"Tougher community sentences. Honesty in sentencing. Keeping 1,000 more police.

"Safer streets, safer communities and a safer Scotland.

"Politics is about choices. Choices such as deciding that cutting crime by putting a thousand extra police on the streets was and remains a priority.

"Choices such as wanting to restore short term sentencing and to bring honesty to sentencing.

"Choices such as wanting to be on the side of the victim and the law abiding majority, not the thug, the mugger, the rapist or the killer.

"You, the police officers of Scotland, are at the front line of keeping Scotland safe.

"You carry out your duties selflessly, I will do the same."

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