Letter: Police go public

I have no doubt that senior police officers such as Stephen Allen (Letters, 11 January) should have a view on the future of policing in Scotland, but surely that should be reserved for his superiors, the police board and the Scottish Government, not the newspapers?

Those in the public employ used to hold back on making such public pronouncements until after they retired, or does Mr Allen expect this to be imminent?

Of all the uniformed services, the police have become the most blatantly political. Perhaps the answer is that we should have elected chief constables, who might then think about what the public wants from the police.

David Wragg

Stoneyflatts

South Queensferry

Should we have local police forces or a single Scottish national force (Letters, 11 January)?

Personally I favour local forces with national co-operation. When I worked as a medical doctor in Malawi I often co-operated with local police who related to the local community.

There was also a "police mobile force" - a semi-military unit which could be sent anywhere in the country where and when needed.

Maybe other countries have patterns which could be examined for useful ideas.

(Dr) David Stevenson

Blacket Place

Edinburgh