KENNY MacAskill has pledged there will be no political interference in the running of a new single Scottish police force as he unveiled sweeping changes to the emergency services.
The Justice Secretary said that independent bodies would hold the chief constable of the new service and chief officer of a single fire service to account and vowed the move would increase local accountability.
It comes despite concerns from Cosla, the body representing Scotland’s councils, and Strathclyde Police Authority over the issue.
Mr MacAskill, who expects the police force to be operational by the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, said merging the current eight forces into one entity would save the public purse £130 million a year, despite the initial £161m of start-up costs.
Mr MacAskill insisted: “On national governance there were legitimate concerns, particularly in relation to the police. There will be no political interference. We will ensure separation between ministers and the services by establishing new independent bodies to hold the chief constable and chief fire officer to account.
“Crucially, ministers will not be able to give instructions to the services on operational matters.”
He said the change was necessary in the face of public sector cuts to protect frontline services.
Mr MacAskill added: “Some people expressed legitimate concerns about single services, on centralisation, governance and accountability.
“Centralisation will not happen. We will improve local services and strengthen links with communities.
“On accountability, we will create a strong formal relationship between each of our 32 councils and the services.
“A designated local officer will have significant delegated authority to work with the council and other partners to shape and deliver services.”
Chief Constable Kevin Smith, President of the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS), said it would benefit the police in tackling organised crime gangs, terrorism and cyber crime.
He said: “Reform will provide us with the opportunity to continue that improvement and ensure we have a modern, highly adaptive service which will continue to deliver an excellent service now and into the future because this reform must last for generations.”
Stephen Curran, chairman of Strathclyde Police Authority, said: “The biggest challenges will be ensuring this
improves efficiency, strengthens delivery of the service and enhances accountability.
“Unfortunately the legislative framework proposed is short on detail and there is a significant piece of work missing on the enhanced local accountability.
“All our communities deserve a greater say in how their area is policed. Local councils are the best place to strengthen local accountability. However, the feeble local arrangements being proposed are tokenistic.”
Labour’s justice spokeswoman Johann Lamont said the party wanted more detail on the transitional arrangements.
Conservative justice spokesman John Lamont added: “We can well understand the concern local people have with the issue of emergency service reform.”
John Duffy, Scottish secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said the single fire service would build on “the commitment and sacrifice of previous generations, where we can remove the barriers to progress and where we can deliver a comprehensive, highly-skilled and highly-motivated rescue service”.
But Cosla president Pat Watters, said: “Despite what they claim, there is no certainty that this reform will protect and improve local services.”
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