THE head of Forth Valley police has claimed that policing is ‘more accountable than ever before’, as Police Scotland celebrated its one-year anniversary.

Chief Superintendent David Flynn, Divisional Commander for Forth Valley, said “significant progress” had been made in the last 12 months.

He was speaking a year on since Scotland’s eight regional police forces were amalgamated under a single banner, Police Scotland.

Mr Flynn said, “Over the last year, we have continued to adapt and transform the organisation, building on best practice from legacy Central Scotland Police in order to deliver the best possible service for our communities.

“We have made significant progress while maintaining high levels of performance levels and public confidence. Policing is now more accountable than ever before and our links with communities have been strengthened with the public now inputting to our policing priorities at a local, regional and national level.

“As well as maintaining strong operational performance, we have also met our first year budget reduction target of £64 million across Scotland and have built a strong foundation for the years ahead.” Last week Police Scotland set out its operational and organisational priorities for the years ahead with the publication of our Annual Policing Plan 2014/15 and Corporate Strategy 2014/16 While across Forth Valley policing plans for Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Falkirk have been prepared for approval by the councils.

Mr Flynn continued, “Across Forth Valley and in each local authority area we have seen a reduction in crime which importantly means fewer victims in our communities. Our crime clear up rate remains high with a focus on bringing offenders into custody quickly. We have again seen a reduction in those killed and seriously injured on our roads and have focused our road policing on the causation factors for collisions.

“Public satisfaction and confidence in local policing remains high and we will continue to do all we can to maintain this.”