The ill-conceived plans by Labour and the SNP for a single Scottish police force have been comprehensively undermined and should be abandoned. The whole process has been discredited and should be replaced by an impartial independent review of the future shape of Scottish policing.
This was the call made yesterday by the Scottish Liberal Democrats following further criticism of the single police force idea from the Scottish Police Federation.
Commenting following yet more criticism of the plans from rank and file police officers, and the lodging of a highly critical motion for debate at the Scottish Police Federation’s annual conference in Aviemore next week, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Robert Brown said:
“The SNP’s policy on a single police force is in tatters. It has been castigated by the Association of Chief Police Officers of Scotland (ACPOS), pulled to pieces by COSLA and now it has been battered by police officers in the Scottish Police Federation. This is perhaps not surprising for a plan whose financial figures were widely condemned from within the police force and had to be done all over again.
“The whole process just does not carry credibility. The Labour party must be ruing the day they so hastily jumped into bed with the SNP on this issue."
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Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott joined local candidate Jeremy Purvis and Jim Hume, top of the list for South of Scotland and the President of NFUS Nigel Miller to help with lambing at Stagehill Farm in the Scottish Borders. The Liberal Democrats’ Rural Action Plan will deliver real solutions for Scotland’s farmers, crofters and rural communities. Commenting after delivering a lamb on the farm, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott said: “Scotland’s high quality food and drink is recognised worldwide and we will support the farmers who produce it. Farms mean jobs in rural and island areas right across Scotland. Supporting our agricultural sector is essential to keeping communities alive, and local shops, schools and companies in business. “Scotland’s farmers and crofters need a government on their side, stopping the worst excesses of Europe and making sure our industry gets a fair crack in the market. Our action plan will help grow a successful rural economy for businesses, communities and families.” To education, and commenting as Michael Russell promises a job for every newly qualified teacher, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Margaret Smith said: “Teachers remember what the SNP promised last time and they failed to deliver. The SNP promised to maintain the record number of teachers left by the Liberal Democrats, but there are now 3,000 fewer teachers than there were in 2007. “Thanks to the SNP, thousands of people trained to become teachers but found there was no job for them at the end. “Finding jobs for these newly trained teachers must be a top priority for the next Scottish Government.”Related posts: