Policing numbers in Musselburgh branded ‘a disgrace’ as East Lothian town has less than half Scottish average
Figures from the Scottish Government show that the number of officers per head in Musselburgh is 45.6 per cent lower than the national average
Policing numbers in Musselburgh have been branded a “disgrace” by a local MP after figures showed that the town has almost half the police officers per head compared to the Scottish average.
Figures supplied by the Scottish Government show that the J Division, which covers the Musselburgh area, has 16.3 full-time police officers per 10,000 people, roughly around 45.6 per cent lower than the Scottish average of 30 officers per 10,000 people. The E Division, which covers Edinburgh, is also below the national average at 20.8 officers.
Chris Murray, MP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, raised the issue in the House of Commons during a debate on antisocial behaviour on Tuesday (November 10), telling the house that he receives daily reports from local residents amid the policing shortage.
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Mr Murray said that he has repeatedly written to Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Neil Gray MSP, and the Minister for Victims and Community Safety, Kirsten Oswald MSP, about the matter and has asked for a date when the area will be getting higher policing levels as well as a commitment to review capacity across both the E and J Divisions, but his requests were not accepted.
He said: “Policing in Musselburgh is a disgrace. I get almost daily emails from constituents reporting intimidation, harassment, supermarket theft and smashed-up restaurants.
“I have launched petitions, hosted coffee mornings, worked with the police and written countless letters to Scottish Ministers, yet precious little has been done. Our police do amazing work, but they are let down by the SNP. Although Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital, the E division that covers it has only 20 officers per 10,000 people—a third below the Scottish average.
“The SNP loves to make comparisons to England and Wales when it suits it, but the English average is 24 officers per 10,000 people; in Musselburgh it is only 16. It is inexplicable to me that the Scottish Government have had an extra £18 billion from this Labour Government, yet none of it has made its way to frontline policing. My constituents are paying the price.
“Solving antisocial behaviour is not rocket science: we just need more police.”
Following his speech in parliament, Mr Murray said: “Musselburgh has community organisations doing brilliant work with young people and tackling antisocial behaviour: MUSSELS, the sea cadets, the Hollies Community Hub. They are doing their bit.
“What they are not getting is the police support from the SNP and the Scottish Government that they need. In Craigmillar, local people and the police worked together and bonfire night was largely quiet. That is what visible, active policing in partnership with a community can do.
“Yet the Scottish Police Federation chair has warned of an ‘almost invisible' police presence. That is exactly what Musselburgh residents tell me about their High Street.
“Our officers do amazing work, but they need the numbers to do it. The Scottish Government must step up and deliver more police for Musselburgh and Edinburgh, and deliver what Craigmillar has shown is possible.”
Mr Murray’s concerns come after the chair of the Scottish Police Federation highlighted earlier this year that part of Scotland had become “policing deserts” due to years of underfunding.
David Thorgold, speaking at the federation’s annual conference in March, said: “Since its inception in 2013, Police Scotland has closed over 140 police stations across our country, three in the east of Scotland in the last month, with many more across the communities of Scotland in the pipeline.
"Chronic underinvestment in policing, and in particular the police estate, has resulted in a situation where large areas of our country have become 'policing deserts' with an almost invisible policing presence, providing an utterly reactive service."
In response to his comments at the time, the former justice secretary Angela Constance said: “We are investing a record £1.62bn for policing in 2025-26 - an increase of £70m on 2024-25 - and Police Scotland is taking on the highest number of recruits since 2013, with the chief constable stating that 123 new probationary constables took their oath of office this month, maintaining officer establishment at 16,631. Scottish police officers have consistently been the best paid in the UK, at the minimum and maximum of each rank."
The Scottish Government has been approached for further comment.