AN MP has accused the Scottish government of "scheming" and "empire-building" as a row over plans to hand control of policing the railways to Police Scotland rumbles on.
Labour's Brian Donohoe, a former special constable, warned that moves to absorb more than 200 British Transport Police (BTP) into the national force would bring an end to the current 'seamless' arrangement and see officers having to hand over control of police matters at the Scottish border.
The Central Ayrshire MP also raised concerns about the level of consultation that has taken place before the plans were outlined, and loss of expertise which would come about if they become reality.
In a letter to The Herald, Mr Donohoe said: "The announcement that the specialist work of the BTP was to be integrated with the duties performed by Police Scotland sent shudders down my spine.
"I value the expertise of both police units but as separate entities, each with a specific range of skills and knowledge.
"I have real fears that, in the event of an accident, those police officers not dedicated to the railways will struggle to cope.
"Just look at the situation in London when the Underground is closed as a result of an accident or an incident. The service is generally back up and running in no time, thanks to the professionalism of a team of officers who know the system thoroughly. Specialisation works well here and I see no reason to gamble with that."
Mr Donohoe raised the possibility of police escorting football fans having to hand over to their counterparts from the other side of the border, and that valuable intelligence on troublemakers could be lost.
He added: "Another concern is the special relationship that the BTP enjoys with the railway operating companies which fund the service. No consultation has taken place with these key stakeholders, despite the fact they pick up almost 95 per cent of the costs.
"The decision by the Scottish Government to axe a police force which has served us well for almost 200 years illustrates how scheming the SNP can be in their efforts at empire-building."
The row comes amid mounting criticism of the single force over the issues of use of stop and search on children and armed officers responding to routine incidents.
The Scottish Government said it would hold talks this year with all stakeholders including the rail industry, BTP, its watchdog the BTP Authority and the BTP Federation, which represents staff.
BTP, which employs 231 officers in Scotland across a network of 11 offices based in major railway stations, has previously opposed a merger on the grounds that it might precipitate the break-up of the service nationally.
A spokesman said the BTP does a "fantastic job ensuring the safety and security of rail passengers and we recognise the importance of retaining their specialist role within the wider Police Scotland function to ensure knowledge is preserved."
He added: "The decision to devolve BTP functions was a cross-party one made by the Smith Commission and consultation with stakeholders will now get underway to determine how the final structure will look, including cross-border working. There are already well-established protocols between Police Scotland and police in the North of England and this experience will feed into the consultation."
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