Scotland has a record number of police officers according to official figures, the Scottish Government said today.

Scotland has a record number of police officers according to official figures, the Scottish Government said today.

Quarterly figures for the three months to September put the number of officers at 16,526.

This was 188 more than the previous quarter, 292 more than in March 2007, and the highest figure ever recorded, the government said.

Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill said forces had already recruited 440 out of the 450 recruits which the government had pledged by the end of March next year.

"Coupled with the highest ever number of officers serving our communities and policing our streets we are delivering a more visible policing presence on Scotland's streets, deterring crime and reassuring our citizens," said the minister.

"This welcome increase in the number of officers is in part the result of our direct recruitment of new officers, over and above the recruitment plans of our police forces.

"Already the resources and policies now in place are delivering improved policing for Scotland."

He said the government had inherited the lowest recruitment levels since devolution, with many officers due to retire.

"We've tackled that challenge head on, and although these latest figures are reassuring, there remains much work to be done," said the minister.

"We have set out plans to deliver a more visible policing presence on Scotland's streets and make an additional 1,000 officers available in our communities.