McMillan Raises Community Safety Service Cuts with Minister

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) has today (Thursday) raised in the Scottish Parliament chamber the recent decision by the ruling Labour/Conservative administration to cut Community Safety Services at the Council by around 65%. Mr McMillan asked the Minister for Community Safety, Fergus Ewing MSP about what measures the Scottish Government have put in place to enhance the role of community safety within Scotland and in his follow up question he raised the cuts taking place in East Dunbartonshire.

Mr McMillan said;

"The action taken by the Labour/Tory coalition, to cut Community Safety services, will damage the reputation which has been built up over the last couple of years by the team in East Dunbartonshire and decimate a service which has been developed to protect our local communities.

"Cuts of this magnitude to community safety services will not put communities minds at ease and could, potentially, jeopardise public safety.

"Should the Labour/Tory coalition not be better suited to listen to Mr Whitton who in his 2007 election leaflet argued for a doubling of the number of community wardens, not slashing them by one third.

"Therefore, I hope that these cuts can be reversed and that the ruling Labour/Conservative administration change their position to ensure safety in local communities is not placed in jeopardy."