David Strang is to stay on as chief constable of Lothian and Borders Police. 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 (30 January 2012).
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."
During Strang's command, recorded crime in the Lothian and Borders has fallen from 78,000 to 60,000.
"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," Whyte said.
Audit Scotland
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.
The report concluded that Lothian and Borders Police has "a distinctive and long-term strategy towards tackling the root causes of crime through effective community policing and local partnerships".
It also added that "there is room to improve understanding of Lothian & Borders’ overall, long-term policing strategy at all levels of the force and that the force and board should work together to develop clear measures against which progress can be assessed."
The report also found that force numbers have been maintained and measures are being taken to manage a reduction in the police budget.