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View Full Version : Northern Constabulary opposed to single Scottish force



Nwicker60
15-Feb-11, 14:49
Rank and file want the
status quo for their force
AN overwhelming number of Northern Constabulary police officers and staff have voted against a single force in an internal staff survey on Scottish Policing Reform.
There was an excellent response with 778 questionnaires being completed. The results are an overwhelming 86.6% voting against a single force, with the vast majority (over 70%), favouring the retention of Northern Constabulary in its current structure, or as a larger regional police force. Just over 13% voted for a single force and nearly 14% favoured Northern Constabulary being merged into a regional model.
A small percentage (3%) selected another option. Some of these expressed a wish that Northern Constabulary should remain independent, some expressed concerns about centralisation of policing in the Central Belt, and others felt unable to reach a decision without detailed costings and evidence.
Chief Constable Ian Latimer, a keynote speaker at the Holyrood Policing Summit today, said:
“I have made my professional view well known. That being, the retention of a high performing, locally accountable police service for the Highlands and Islands and the North of Scotland is in the best interests of our communities and the existing police officers and support staff who deliver our services within the largest geographical force in the United Kingdom.
“It is important that each member of police staff and officer has the opportunity to be directly consulted on the future of policing in the Highlands and Islands, where they live and work. The results of our staff survey are overwhelmingly in favour of Northern Constabulary being retained at the centre of a regional force for the Highlands and Islands.
“Northern Constabulary is one of the highest performing forces in the UK, with enviable detection rates and excellent community engagement. It is also a Force that has proven its ability to be efficient, innovative and flexible, responding agilely to the challenging economic situation and living within its means. This can only happen with a locally accountable Force which has the interests and needs of communities at its heart.”
Mr Latimer stressed the importance for communities to take part in the consultation:
“I welcome the decision to formally consult with communities across Scotland on the future of policing. It is imperative that all Forces, their Boards and members of the public, are engaged and fully consulted on any proposed change which, without a doubt, will affect policing and jobs within their communities.”
Vice Convener of Northern Joint Police Board, Councillor Ian Ross, also speaking at the Scottish Policing Summit, said:
“The Northern Constabulary has clearly proved itself to be a resilient and high performing Force which enjoys a strong approval from communities across the Highlands and Islands - a particular strength is the ability to work effectively with partners and contribute to the delivery of common goals. There is almost a clear inevitability of change to Police structures in Scotland, but it is crucial we have a future structure which has a clear understanding of the challenges, needs and circumstances of the Highlands with an emphasis on resilience, retained capacity and meaningful local accountability - this is vital for the Highlands and Islands."
Convener of Northern Joint Police Board, Norman M MacLeod encouraged members of the public to make their views known. He said:
“The staff survey result of over 86% clearly demonstrates that a one force model is not the best way forward for policing in the Highlands and Islands. This proves that our community style of policing is highly valued by our staff, our police officers and our communities, so nothing less than our current model which demonstrates local accountability should be accepted in any future policing model.
“I would encourage all staff to express their views to Scottish Government through the consultation document.”
A huge number of people (around 260) submitted comments in the survey. The results of the survey and all comments are published in full on the Force website. www.northern.police.uk