Kenny MacAskill expected to back single police force

The Scotland on Sunday newspaper revealed this month that police board conveners had been told he would unveil a single Scottish force as a key SNP manifesto pledge.

It is not known whether the decision to include the future of fire and rescue in the announcement makes it more likely that it too faces being merged into a single service.

Labour has already backed a single police force, and party leader Iain Gray and justice spokesman Richard Baker met the Association of Scottish Pol-ice Superintendents yesterday, to discuss how it would work.

David O'Connor, its president, said: "Asps is clear that we do not support the status quo of eight forces. If it is decided that a single force is the way forward, we would seek reassurance that they would protect rural and cultural characteristics across Scotland."

Mr Gray said: "Labour committed to a single police force months ago and it is time the SNP stopped playing catch-up."

The Lib Dems are the only party which has come out in opposition to a single force. Robert Brown, the justice spokesman, said: "There has been no clear reason given by any of the supporters why moving towards a single Scottish police force will improve policing or make Scottish streets safer."