Chiefs’ cost-cutting talks at luxury hotel

Top Lothian police chiefs held discussions on cost- cutting measures at a luxurious hotel while rank and file officers fear for their jobs.

The group of eight officers, including Chief Constable David Strang, spent around £2000 on dinner and an overnight stay at Dalmahoy Hotel, Kirknewton it was reported today.

They were aiming to agree on how to implement cash-savings measures which could see Scotland’s eight police forces merge.

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: “We can confirm that eight members of the force stayed away overnight at a hotel in the force area to allow for an extended meeting to agree how to take the force through the significant changes of the police reform programme.”