Exclusive: Scotland's new police watchdog is the latest figure to back the amalgamation of the country�s eight forces into one. The appointment of Bill Skelly has drawn criticism from politicians concerned that the country�s forces are to be centralised.

Scotland's new police watchdog is the latest figure to back the amalgamation of the country's eight forces into one.

The appointment of Bill Skelly, the new head of the inspectorate of constabulary in Scotland, has drawn criticism from politicians concerned that the country's forces are to be centralised. The Scottish Government made the announcement alongside a new national police board.

Like his predecessor Paddy Tomkins, Mr Skelly believes amalgamating all eight forces into one is sensible and "inevitable" within the next decade.

On Saturday, The Herald revealed that chief constables and police boards have written to Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill expressing their concern at the new inspector.

Their worry is not his personality, but his level of experience, and what lies behind the Government's decision to appoint an inspector, not a chief inspector. Unlike his immediate predecessors, Mr Skelly was not a chief constable.