Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP David Mundell has expressed concern after discovering that the number of police officers in Scotland has fallen by 172 since the creation of a single force, figures have revealed.
A report just published has shown there are now 17,324 full-time officers in post, the lowest since mid-2011.
And while that is still above the level of 2007, when an extra 1,000 officers were secured, there is concern it is indicative of a trend for the new Police Scotland.
The Scottish Conservatives were influential in persuading the Scottish Government to bring in additional policemen and women when the SNP ran a minority administration.
At that stage, ministers only wanted to increase headcount by 500.
The local MP, a critic of the new Scottish police force, said he was disappointed that numbers had fallen since the creation of Police Scotland.
“I have always opposed the idea of a central police force, and I remain concerned about the possible impact, especially locally, of this Scottish Government decision. The SNP claim this new police force will be more efficient and there will be overall savings, but I remain unconvinced, and these latest figures do nothing to change my mind.
“Leaving aside the cost of establishing this new force, with a police service run from the Edinburgh area this area could lose out from a lack of local accountability and a police service no longer focused on the complex needs of this area.
“It will only make the important job the police in Clydesdale and Tweeddale do all the more difficult. I remain very concerned that we will see officers and other resources sucked out of this area and into the central belt.
“We are privileged to live in a low crime area but it is important that the role of effective community based policing is recognised as having achieved this. Clearly everyone wants to see these resources maintained but news of falling numbers does worry me,” Mr Mundell continued.
The local MP added: “It is disappointing the numbers have fallen since the creation of Police Scotland. Numbers are now at their lowest level since mid-2011 and this cannot be allowed to become a trend. The SNP now needs to explain why there has been a decrease and what they intend to do to ensure this does not have an impact on crime and public safety. Locally politicians of all parties must do everything we can to make sure we retain resources in our communities."