Police attack plans for a British FBI

Published on Thursday 20 January 2005 00:58

SCOTLAND’S rank-and-file police officers delivered a stinging rebuke to the government over its plans to create a British version of the FBI yesterday, claiming the proposals threatened the "political impartiality" of the police.

The Scottish Police Federation launched an attempt to block plans to establish a Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA).

Officers are particularly concerned that the Scottish Executive is content to let London decide the issue on its own, passing responsibility for legislating to Westminster under a Sewel motion.

The federation has written to all MSPs, MPs and members of the House of Lords, arguing that the Serious and Organised Crime and Police Bill, if passed, would have dangerous consequences for the police because it would give too much power to the Home Secretary to direct police operations.

The federation has warned that the bill gives "significant new roles" to the Home Secretary, as well as to Scottish ministers.

The federation stated: "We believe this will encroach on the political impartiality of the police and the operational independence of chief constables and significantly alter the balance of the tripartite structure of control and accountability which are cornerstones of our democratic constitution."

The federation appealed to the Executive not to hand all responsibility to London, but to make sure the Scottish Parliament got the chance to debate the plans in full and make changes for Scotland if necessary.

However, a spokeswoman for the Executive said ministers thought it would be best for legislation to be co-ordinated on a UK basis in this case.

"Ministers felt that crime does not recognise any borders," she said.

The Executive’s use of the Sewel device for contentious pieces of legislation came under further scrutiny yesterday with its decision to pass plans for a UK Supreme Court down to London. The Tories and the SNP both attacked the plans to use a Sewel motion on this issue, claiming it would change the basis of Scottish law and should be considered, debated and passed by the Scottish Parliament, not Westminster.