Public should have more say argues Emery

MEMBERS of the public should have a bigger say in policing, and a better understanding, in the future, Vic Emery has said.

The chairman of the Scottish Police Authority has stressed that people should know how their taxpayer money is being spent and see that they are getting good value for it.

Writing in The Scotsman, he said: “You should have more say on local priorities for your area and be better able to question, and judge, how well the police are performing against those priorities.

“You should be able to see how the money invested in policing is being used and what results it brings.

“And you should be able to understand better how national policing decisions are made and why.

“This is what better accountability and scrutiny will bring. Asking more of the right questions of policing, with the right information, at the right time.”

The authority will be responsible for holding Police Scotland to account and helping it achieve savings of £1.3 billion over 15 years.