Issues such as public sector pay and pensions, and 25 per cent budget cuts across all governmental departments, mean the police are under scrutiny in terms of their performance and by how much the Home Office will trim their resources. North of the border, Chief Constable Colin McKerracher said 1,600 officers served the north east Grampian region, the highest number in the force's history. Mr McKerracher also highlighted his force continued to outstrip targets, including a year-on-year drop in anti-social behaviour by 12 per cent.