TO paraphrase Vladimir Lenin, "an opinion, no matter how invalid, told often enough becomes the truth".
And so it is with the opinion that everything carried out in the name of Police Scotland is wrong whereas, before its creation, policing in Scotland’s was, if not perfect, far superior to that currently being experienced.
As some politicians, former police officers, the media and even academics eagerly climb on this particular bandwagon the truth moves further and further from view.
As an ex police officer, who 30 years ago suggested that Scotland should have one police force, I believe this opinion does not bear close scrutiny.
Before the formation of Police Scotland in 2013 we were blessed with eight police forces, the personal fiefdoms of eight Chief Constables all with their own take on how policing should carried out and the power to ensure their views held sway.
While public and political accountability was seen as a cornerstone of policing in Scotland the reality was patchy to say the least and many chief officers enjoyed a cosy consensus with those they were supposed to be accountable to.
While the new force was arguably conceived with at least one eye on cost savings and experienced a succession of tragic and preventable failures, every mistake, no matter how small, was picked on by its critics as proof that the past was so much better. Dare I suggest that if the cumulative errors of the previous eight forces could be calculated they would far outweigh those of the new force?
The teething problems major new organisations naturally experience have been eagerly seized on by some who value political dogma and prejudice over rational judgement. Everything that Police Scotland does is viewed with suspicion.
Unfortunately the new Scottish Police Authority, formed to ensure good governance and accountability, was conceived in haste, and until the recent appointment of Susan Deacon as chairwoman, appeared to act against these twin aims.
I would be the first to admit that in terms of local accountability much remains to be done. Accountability does not mean control, however, and it is to be hoped that the Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Government can perform their duties effectively while allowing the police to police.
As Acting Chief Constable Designate Iain Livingstone warned today, “the process of change is significant and complex. We need to approach the coming months and years with a level of humility” ("Favourite to take over respected in and out of police", The Herald, February 8)
Is it too much to ask that those voices so raised in opposition to Police Scotland will also exhibit humility in supporting the vast majority of Scotland’s police officers who continue to perform a vital public duty in the best traditions of the service?
Iain A J McKie,
27, Donnini Court, South Beach Road, Ayr.
ALL the reports on Phil Gormley's resignation ("Acting police chief would have quit if Gormley failed to resign", The Herald, February 8) seem to point to the need to hear his side of the story, the process he endured, his efforts to implement the SNP's vision for Police Scotland, and his alleged misconduct, the nature of which the public has no clue about. In fact he has never even been formally questioned by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) or the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.
It seems everyone else has had their say in the Holyrood committees' investigations of the SPA , but Mr Gormley's input would be very enlightening.
It doesn't sound like he has had a massive pay-off as a condition of his silence, so surely one of the committee chairmen should summon him.
Allan Sutherland,
1 Willow Row, Stonehaven.
CHIEF Constable Phil Gormley has done the honourable thing by resigning and allowing a line to be drawn under the current administrative shambles seen in Police Scotland since its inception.
This is an opportunity for the SNP administration to get its ministers; terms of reference sorted out to avoid any repetition of such fiascos.
Despite all the controversies at the executive level of Police Scotland we are served well by officers just getting on with the job of maintaining public order and fighting crime.
Dennis Forbes Grattan,
3 Mugiemoss Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen.
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