I have read several complaints about suggested police reorganisation within Scotland ("Single police force concerns", The Herald, August 22).
I recall the same consternation was evident among my colleagues when the City of Glasgow Police became Strathclyde Police in 1975. The Chief Constable at that time was David McNee (later Sir David), who became Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in 1977.
At present the total number of police in Strathclyde exceed 8000, while the other seven Scottish constabularies combined have a force of approximately 8600 officers. It is not surprising that Chief Constable Stephen House (Strathclyde) is of the opinion that a national police force for Scotland would be better equipped and ready to deal with any major incidents. Smaller individual forces would be unable to respond to large-scale emergencies.
Suggestions that a single force would centralise resources towards the Central Belt is scaremongering. A single Scottish force would be more robust and respond quicker with the necessary expertise. Furthermore, those delegated at present to office administration in all the constabularies could find themselves doing more rewarding community involvement work in schools.
Donald J Morrison,
20 Haig Street, Portknockie, Buckie.
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