New 'super' police body is waste of cash, claim critics

Published on Thursday 25 June 2009 01:49

A NEW nationwide policing body designed to tackle terrorism and human trafficking has been dismissed as a "wasteful expensive luxury" that will not serve the public interest.

Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary, yesterday said the establishment of the Scottish Policing Board was necessary given the "increasingly complex" nature of law enforcement. However, critics warn that the new body could lead to the "centralisation" of forces, and will only hamper policing efforts around the country.

Announcing the remit of the board yesterday, Mr MacAskill said it will allow the eight police forces in Scotland to work "seamlessly" together and act as a "collective voice".

The body, which was a key recommendation of the recent review of policing by former Chief Inspector of Constabulary Paddy Tomkins, will include police and local government representatives. It will address major cross-border issues, such as people trafficking, e-crime, terrorism, and fraud.

Mr MacAskill, who made clear the new body will ensure such challenges "do not impact on frontline policing", said: "The board will bring together for the first time central and local government partners with the police to identify and consider the key strategic priorities for policing across Scotland.

"It will act as a single, collective voice for policing, helping to strengthen governance and accountability at a national level."

But Robert Brown, the Liberal Democrat justice spokesman, said such a "one-size-fits-all" approach was "entirely wrong".

"These proposals will be viewed with huge concern across Scotland, where the value of local policing has long proved its worth to local communities," he said. "Solutions that are suitable for Glasgow or Edinburgh may well be entirely wide of the mark for Wick or Kelso."

He added that "centralisation" of policing is a "bad idea", and said it is clear the government wants to make local police boards redundant or abolish them altogether.

"Traditionally the police have been operationally independent of government and locally accountable," he added. "The national body proposed by the government is to be chaired by the government."

Councillor Martin Greig, convener of Grampian Joint Police Board, said: "The creation of a fresh layer of bureaucracy is a civil servant's dream, but a wasteful expensive luxury that is not in the public interest and which the average citizen would oppose.

"I cannot see how the proposed board will add anything to improve the democratic process. It is worrying to have this proposal coming practically out of the blue."

Mr Greig questioned the independence of the initial review, and suggested the new body would undermine the work of the Scottish Police Services Authority.

He added: "The push for centralised policing is a drip drip that will marginalise and further disadvantage policing in the north east. We already risk losing our forensics lab because Central Belt priorities have been put first."

Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken said: "The Scottish Conservatives believe in the autonomy of our existing Scottish police forces with strong links to local communities. It is right that there should be regular and constructive dialogue between them to share best practice and policing priorities."

He also called for the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency to be given its own chief constable. "Its role cannot be underestimated in Scotland's fight against organised crime and in cross-border cooperation," Mr Aitken added.

A spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland welcomed the plans for the board and said it looked forward to "playing a full and active part" in the body.

The new policing board will meet for the first time in the autumn. A project team involving police, central, and local government will be set up to develop "collective thinking" in advance.