'Six weeks to save Scots local policing'

Published on Monday 25 July 2011 17:48

COUNCILS have launched a campaign against a single police force, warning the Scottish Government's plans amount to "little more then a centralising power grab".

They argue the proposed merger will cost 230 million, the equivalent of 7,600 officers.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) is urging people to write to justice secretary Kenny MacAskill and First Minister Alex Salmond voicing their opposition.

It also plans to hold a conference to build momentum as the campaign, "Six weeks to save genuinely local Scottish policing", moves towards Mr Mac-Askill's decision, expected in September.

The Scottish Government is considering whether to have one force, a regional model or stick to the status quo of eight constabularies.

Mr MacAskill claimed responses to a Scottish Government consultation had "strengthened" the case for a single force.

However, Cosla argues that 90 per cent of respondents were opposed, while seven of Scotland's eight chief constables are also against, or at least "unconvinced by the case" made.

In an open letter, Cosla's president Pat Watters and community safety spokeswoman Barbara Grant wrote: "The most recent Scottish Government business case shows that Scotland would have to spend a whopping 230m (equivalent to 7,600 police officers] in start up and restructuring costs for a single force.

"This 230m spend is the minimum if they have got every single detail correct - all evidence suggests restructures cost at least 150 per cent to 200 per cent more than estimated."

They added: "This ill-thought through obsession with a single police force will costs hundreds of millions of pounds, thousands of jobs and sadly, damage to community safety."

A single force has been strongly opposed in Grampian and the Highlands, by the Liberal Democrats, and the Scottish Police Federation, representing rank and file officers, which voted to oppose it at its annual conference. Martin Greig, convener of Grampian Joint Police Board, said: "There is no evidence whatsoever that this structure will lead to efficiencies. On the contrary, a force run from Edinburgh will damage policing in the north-east."

It is the latest example of Cosla's willingness to stand up to ministers, after it criticised education secretary Mike Russell's ban on rural school closures, and its chief executive warned that the rising demand for public services is "killing" Scotland.

John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, said councils were concerned about centralisation.

"Don't be surprised when councils are against moving powers to Edinburgh," he said. "At the time of devolution there was a long-standing debate that Edinburgh might try to seek more powers for itself."

The Scottish Government defended its position. A spokesman said: "The budget cuts from Westminster mean that we must change the way we do things precisely in order to protect community policing."The projected long-term savings under a new structure are up to 154m a year, every year."

Assistant Chief Constable Cliff Anderson, of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, said: "We are strongly of the opinion that any new structure must meet the strictest standards on governance, accountability and local delivery."