The national review of policing in Scotland has called for a steering group to address "gaps" and "shortcomings" across Scotland. The review was asked to look at whether communities across the country receive equal access to specialist police services.

The national review of policing in Scotland has called for a steering group to address "gaps" and "shortcomings" across Scotland.

The review, commissioned by ministers last summer, was asked to look at whether communities across the country receive equal access to specialist police services.

It raises concerns about both parity in specialist services and the overall governance of policing on a national level. The paper recommends the creation of a national forum chaired by the Justice Secretary to "bring all those with responsibility for the governance of policing together to manage the most nationally significant policing risks and issues".

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary Paddy Tomkins, a former chief constable of Lothian and Borders Police, believes current lines of accountability and responsibility are not sufficient for national concerns such as counter-terrorism.

The proposed Policing in Scotland Steering Group would: "Decide which policing risks require co-ordination at national level ... and oversee the response to these national risks."

The review was specifically not asked to look at the thorny issue of structure for forces across Scotland but is likely to reignite the debate about whether parts of the service should be run nationally and questions about whether Scotland would be better served by one or eight forces.

The paper states: "We found only limited progress had been made since 2005 in some of the important risk areas included in this work. Overall we cannot provide robust reassurance that either these risks or other emerging high risks are being managed effectively.

"We recommend that Scottish Ministers bring forward draft legislation to impose a statutory duty on chief constables and police authorities to take the following explicitly into account in all decision-making: Scotland's national policing capacity and capability; its national resilience to catastrophic events or strategic threats from criminality; and the reduction of the costs that arise from unnecessary duplication of services."

Mr Tomkins believes Scotland needs to address policing in the same way as the health service. "The GP is the gatekeeper but we know that behind them there are different experts and levels of sophistication," he said. "I live in the Borders but don't expect them to be able to do everything at my local hospital as there may not be enough cases locally for there to be a need for certain specialists.

"You can not have a surgeon in every GP's surgery. Most healthcare is delivered locally but specialist treatments are administered nationally. I think the police needs to look to the health service in this.

"We are proposing a forum which will bring together the eight conveners and eight chief constables to discuss these issues and look at national risks such as complex homicides and serious and organised crime to configure the best way to mitigate those risks."

Some 2500 officers and police board members responded to the review, the conclusions of which ministers are considering. More than 43% of respondents agreed completely that specialist services would be better provided by forces working together and some 44% "agreed slightly".

Councillor Paul Rooney, convener of Strathclyde Joint Police Board, said: "The review confirms a number of areas whereby the role of Police Authorities could be enhanced."