No '˜due diligence' done on BTP-Police Scotland integration plan

By The Newsroom
Published 14th Sep 2017, 07:00 BST
The British Transport Police Federation says a small number of officers have already left the force because of merger uncertainty. Picture: TSPLThe British Transport Police Federation says a small number of officers have already left the force because of merger uncertainty. Picture: TSPL
The British Transport Police Federation says a small number of officers have already left the force because of merger uncertainty. Picture: TSPL
No due diligence has been carried out on controversial plans to integrate British Transport Police into Police Scotland, it has emerged.

Members of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) will meet today to discuss the plan to hand railway policing to the national force from 2019.

But The Scotsman understands no detailed examination of the costs associated with the project has been carried out.

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Earlier this week, justice secretary Michael Matheson rejected calls for the integration to be put off after concerns were raised by opposition MSPs.

It followed the leaking of a report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) which described the merger as an “entirely” political decision.

Addressing Holyrood on Tuesday, Mr Matheson said: “I want to reassure parliament in light of recent commentary that I do not see any immediate impact on the programme to integrate the British Transport Police in Scotland into Police Scotland.