Bullied police

Chris Marshall, offering his comments on the Scottish Police Federation conference (Perspective, 8 April), thought it hardly surprising that “a group of unionised employees gathered in a luxury hotel to discuss their jobs would be critical of their boss”. However, the police do not have a union. They cannot go on strike.

And the structure of Police Scotland is designed to prevent any public dissent by police officers.

Thus the reports from Turnberry were a source of astonishment to ordinary bobbies on the beat. How could ordinary police constables, knowing the way the organisation functions, have dared to speak out?

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The Fed (doubtless Mr Marshall treats them as union bosses) know that their job is to manage and stifle dissent, so how did critical motions get debated?

Current police officers would not ruin their careers by 
writing to The Scotsman. They are so impressed by the willingness of other rank and file members of the force to say it as it is.

Sir Stephen House introduced a uniform police force throughout Scotland but only by adopting all the procedures and anachronisms of Strathclyde Police.

The police have moved back into a harsh regime where senior officers bully and “plods” obey or look for other jobs.

Hugh Mackay

Blacket Place