Lothian and Borders Police

{{Short description|Territorial Police Force in Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Use British English|date=August 2012}} {{Infobox law enforcement agency |agencyname = Lothian and Borders Police |nativename = |nativenamea = |nativenamer = |commonname = |abbreviation = |fictional = |patch = |patchcaption = |logo = Lothian_and_Borders_Police_Logo.svg |logocaption = |badge = |badgecaption = |flag = |flagcaption = |imagesize = |motto = Semper Vigilo |mottotranslated = |formedyear = 1975 |preceding1 = |dissolved = 1 April 2013 |superseding = [[Police Scotland]] |employees = |volunteers = |budget = £207.3m (2007/2008) |legalpersonality = |country = Scotland |countryabbr = |national = |federal = |international = |divtype = Police area |divname = Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian, Scottish Borders |divdab = |subdivtype = |subdivname = |subdivdab = |map = ScotlandPoliceLothianBorders.png |mapcaption = |dmap = |sizearea = 6,453 km² |sizepopulation = 920,164 (2007) |legaljuris = |governingbody = |governingbodyscnd = |constitution1 = |police = |local = |military = |paramilitary = |provost = |gendarmerie = |religious = |speciality1 = |secret = |overviewtype = |overviewbody = |headquarters = Fettes, [[Edinburgh]] |hqlocmap = |hqlocmapwidth = |hqlocmapheight = |hqlocmapborder = |hqlocleft = |hqloctop = |hqlocmappoptitle = |sworntype = |sworn = 2,905 (2008) |unsworntype = |unsworn = |unsworntype1 = |unsworn1 = |multinational = |electeetype = |minister1name = |minister1pfo = |chief1name = [[David Strang (police officer)|David Strang]] |chief1position = Chief Constable |parentagency = |child1agency = |unittype = |unitname = |officetype = Division |officename = 4 |provideragency = |uniformedas = |stationtype = |stations = 51 |website = [http://www.lbp.police.uk/ www.lbp.police.uk] |footnotes = |reference = }} [[File:Police HQ - geograph.org.uk - 16347.jpg|thumb|Lothian and Borders Police headquarters in Fettes]] [[File:Mounted police in Princes Street, Edinburgh.jpg|thumb|Mounted police in Edinburgh]] [[File:Motorcycle police in Gorgie Road, Edinburgh.jpg|thumb|Motorcycle police in Edinburgh]]

'''Lothian and Borders Police''' was the [[territorial police force]] for the [[Scotland|Scottish]] [[council areas]] of the [[City of Edinburgh (council area)|City of Edinburgh]], [[East Lothian]], [[Midlothian]], [[Scottish Borders]] and [[West Lothian]] between 1975 and 2013. The force's headquarters were in Fettes Avenue, [[Edinburgh]].

Lothian and Borders Police was formed on 16 May 1975 by an amalgamation of Berwick, Roxburgh and Selkirk Constabulary; Edinburgh City Police; and The Lothians and Peebles Constabulary.

The force had 2,905 officers and 1,384 support staff as of March 2008. The force's last [[Chief Constable]] was [[David Strang (police)|David Strang]] who replaced [[Paddy Tomkins]] on 29 March 2007.

An [[Act of the Scottish Parliament]], the [[Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012]], created a single Police Service of Scotland—known as [[Police Scotland]]—with effect from 1 April 2013.<ref>[http://news.stv.tv/scotland/197532-police-scotland-name-of-new-single-police-service-unveiled/ STV News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115105052/http://news.stv.tv/scotland/197532-police-scotland-name-of-new-single-police-service-unveiled/ |date=15 January 2013 }}, 30 October 2012</ref> This merged the eight former regional police forces in Scotland (including Lothian & Borders Police), together with the [[Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency]], into a single service covering the whole of Scotland.<ref>{{cite news|title=Police and fire service merger 'would save £1.7bn'|url=http://news.stv.tv/scotland/293990-bold-plans-to-merge-police-and-fire-services-unveiled/|access-date=19 January 2012|newspaper=stv.tv|date=17 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120012800/http://news.stv.tv/scotland/293990-bold-plans-to-merge-police-and-fire-services-unveiled/|archive-date=20 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Police Scotland has its headquarters at the [[Scottish Police College]] at [[Tulliallan]] in [[Fife]].

==Divisions== The Lothian and Borders Police area stretched from [[Blackridge, West Lothian|Blackridge]] in the west to [[Newcastleton]] in the south. It was split into four territorial divisions, and several other non-territorial divisions for specialist and administrative roles.

===Territorial Divisions=== '''A Division''' covered the [[City of Edinburgh council area]], and was created in 2002 following the amalgamation of the City of Edinburgh's three previous divisions. It was the largest territorial division in terms of manpower and population. Its headquarters were St Leonards Police Station.

'''E Division''' covered [[East Lothian]] and [[Midlothian]], stretching from the Edinburgh City Bypass to [[Dunbar]] in the east. Its headquarters were in [[Dalkeith]].

'''F Division''' covered [[West Lothian]] with its headquarters in [[Livingston, West Lothian|Livingston]].

'''G Division''' was the largest territorial division in Lothian and Borders Police and covered the [[Scottish Borders]]. It was approximately twice the size of all the other divisions combined, bordering [[England]] in the south. It covered a predominantly rural area featuring rolling country side and isolated population areas. Its headquarters were in [[Hawick]].

===Non-territorial Divisions===

'''C Division''' (Corporate Services) comprised such departments as Corporate Communications, Safer Communities, Complaints and Conduct and Business Improvement.

'''H Division''' was concerned with Personnel and Human Resources functions.

'''J Division''' was concerned with Secondments.

'''N Division''' was styled the "Criminal Justice Administration Department".

'''O Division''' (Operations) provided specialist operations support to the force. It was predominantly made up of the Roads Policing Units (traffic) which were based at the headquarters of each division. They also provided specialist Firearms and Public Order (Riot Police) support to all divisions. Also within O Division were the forces Dog Handlers. O Division also included The Force Communications Centre (FCC).

'''P Division''' was responsible for training and career development. Training of probationary constables was carried out jointly by the [[Scottish Police College]] based at [[Tulliallan Castle]], "on the job" in the force area. Officers transferring from other Scottish forces were not required to attend the college, unlike those transferring from the rest of the United Kingdom, who were required to attend a conversion course to allow for adjustment to Scots law.

'''S Division''' was responsible for the financial management of the force.

'''X Division''' provided investigative support to the entire force. While detectives may have been allocated to assist other divisions as their main role as detectives, they could be pooled to provide assistance whether their specialist skills are required. Also known as the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) they were the detectives of the force and investigated major crimes as well as everyday crimes such as housebreaking.

'''Z Division''' was styled the "Central Services Department".

==Chief Constables== Chief Constables were:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/end-of-an-era-lothian-and-borders-police-history-1-2862560|title= End of an era: Lothian and Borders police history|work=The Scotsman|access-date=16 July 2018}}</ref> *1975–1983: Sir [[John Henry Orr]] *1983–1996: Sir [[William Sutherland (police officer)|William Sutherland]] *1996–2002: Sir [[Roy Cameron (police officer)|Roy Cameron]] *2002–2007: [[Paddy Tomkins]] *2007–2013: [[David Strang (police officer)|David Strang]]

==See also== * [[Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland]] * [[Fettesgate]] * [[Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency]] * [[Scottish Police College]] * [[Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band]] * [[Police Scotland]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050706080304/http://www.lbp.police.uk/ Official website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lothian And Borders Police}} [[Category:Government agencies established in 1975]] [[Category:Defunct police forces of Scotland]] [[Category:Organisations based in the Scottish Borders]] [[Category:Lothian]] [[Category:Government-related organisations based in Edinburgh]] [[Category:1975 establishments in Scotland]] [[Category:Government agencies disestablished in 2013]] [[Category:2013 disestablishments in Scotland]]