INVERCLYDE'S top police officer has welcomed a cash injection of £22,000 which he will be able to spend on local priorities.

The Renfrewshire and Inverclyde division has received a share from a new £325,000 Local Partnership and Initiative Fund fund which will be spent by local commanders.

Each division was awarded a basic £15,000 with a proportional split of the remaining money based on officer distribution, demand and deprivation as reported in the 2016 Scottish Index of Multi-Deprivation.

The Renfrewshire and Inverclyde division received £22,439, which commander Chief Superintendent Alan Murray says will be put to good use.

He said: “Local policing is at the heart of Police Scotland and my officers and staff are committed to providing the best service possible to those who live and visit the Inverclyde area.

“I welcome the Local Partnership and Initiative Fund, which will allow us to continue and also develop new opportunities with our partners which in turn will benefit the safety and wellbeing of the people who live in the community."

The announcement follows a commitment by Chief Constable Iain Livingstone to provide divisional commanders with discretionary funds and falls under the wider Local Policing Programme.

Deputy Chief Constable for Local Policing Will Kerr said: “Local commanders and officers know their communities and partners, whether they are in local authorities, health, social work, the third or private sectors, best.

“Our local policing programme will ensure that policing in Scotland is delivered with a focus on communities and reflects the different needs of urban, rural, island and remote community access across Scotland.

“This is an important recognition of Divisional Commanders’ autonomy to support activities and initiatives which they identify as able to improve the safety and wellbeing of their community.”

A record will be kept of how the money is used in Inverclyde.

Mr Kerr added: “In line with our commitment to financial rigour and accountability, divisions are to maintain a record of their use of the fund and report to the local policing programme on a monthly basis.”