Police Scotland to take control of railway security

POLICE SCOTLAND is to take over the policing of Scotland’s railways when the power is handed to Holyrood, the justice secretary has confirmed.
British Transport Police at Glasgow Queen Street Station
. Picture: TSPLBritish Transport Police at Glasgow Queen Street Station
. Picture: TSPL
British Transport Police at Glasgow Queen Street Station . Picture: TSPL

Scotland will get control over this as part of the Smith Commission agreement on more devolution after the referendum No vote.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said he would be integrating the power over railways to the Scottish force, despite admitting “challenges” still exist with Police Scotland after recent controversies over armed policing and strop and search

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“and that’s the approach we will take,” he told BBC Radio Scotland today.

“The approach we’ve taken in Scotland is one where we are much more community engaged, where we have a much greater level of public scrutiny of policing and we expect our force in Scotland to engage with local authorities, with local stakeholders and to make sure they’re seen as being part of the local community.”

The “specialist function” which British Transport Police undertakes is “greatly valued” by ministers, he said.

“What we want to do is establish a model that will allow that specialist function to be maintained and for that service they provide on the railways to continue to be provided.”

British Transport Police wanted to continue providing this service, with oversight by Holyrood instead of Westminster. But Mr Matheson has rejected this and says the force’s Scottish operations, and more than 200 officers, integrated into Police Scotland.

The minister admitted there have been “some challenges” with the introduction of the new national force, Police Scotland, after recent controversies over stop and search and armed officers attending routine incidents.

“Some of those issues are being worked through at the moment, but I would say as a constituency MSP my engagement with local commanders and local policing has been extremely good,” he said.

“I do recognise there are areas where that can be improved and I would like to see further improvement.”