Scottish Police Authority Chair visits Dumfries and Galloway

Susan Deacon CBE, Chair of the Scottish Police Authority has made her first visit to Dumfries and Galloway since taking up post in December 2017.

Ms Deacon spent Tuesday (24 April) meeting with police officers and support staff at the Divisional HQ in Dumfries. She also took the opportunity to meet with Dumfries and Galloway Council Leader Elaine Murray, Deputy Leader Rob Davidson and Chief Executive Gavin Stevenson to discuss local approaches to policing in the region.

Speaking about her visit to Dumfries, Susan Deacon CBE said:

“This is my first visit to the Dumfries and Galloway Division as Chair of the Scottish Police Authority and it was a hugely informative visit where I had the opportunity to meet and hear first-hand from police officers and police staff on the ground. Despite significant change in recent years, the contribution and commitment of the divisional policing team to adapt and continue to deliver first class policing has been impressive and I was struck by the efforts being made to work constructively with other partners to tackle issues and improve local services.

“I was also delighted to have the opportunity to meet with representatives of Dumfries and Galloway Council including the Leader, Deputy Leader, Chief Executive. The SPA has a key role to play in supporting, advocating, challenging and improving policing. To do that effectively the Authority needs to be more outward facing and a big part of that approach will involve closer working with our local authority partners and wider communities and stakeholders to ensure they are better able to feed in the issues that matter to them and to influence how policing in their area is delivered.”