AN ugly little word, “Strathclydisation,” but a potent one, nevertheless, particularly in the north and north-east of Scotland.
It is, or was, shorthand for the perceived requirement to impose Strathclyde tactics on various aspects of local policing in other parts of the country, during the early days of Police Scotland, the national police force.
It was a word that certainly irked Sir Stephen House, the first Chief Constable of the new force, who said in a Herald interview in 2014, “The minute you take a job like this, you take huge ownership for the whole country.”
However, irritation over “Strathclydisation” persisted in some quarters, and it is good to see Sir Stephen’s successor, Phil Gormley, now signalling a halt to centralisation, and saying that regional commanders will be re-empowered.
This makes eminent sense, given not only that some of them are responsible for areas almost as large as those covered by the old, pre-Police Scotland forces, but that they know their areas like the back of their proverbial hand.
Flexibility and a measure of autonomy are qualities that will be put to the utmost use by chief inspectors and superintendents. Local good practice will be allowed to flourish.
Not that this is a wholesale process of decentralisation. Mr Gormley has been careful to say that central control over such high-profile policing aspects as counter-terrorism and murder investigation will remain.
However, dealing with issues that are smaller but still important, such as anti-social behaviour, could be left to local commanders, he added.
Mr Gormley’s attitude is to be welcomed. Police Scotland has achieved much in its time, but the ‘One size fits all’ philosophy is not one that is necessarily suited to every last aspect of local policing in the years and challenges that lie ahead.
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