Not much cop

THE shambles at the top of Police Scotland goes on and on.

Misconduct probes, a chief constable on special leave, a dysfunctional watchdog organisation – and a lot of opposition anger.

Yesterday, Justice Secretary Michael Matheson tried desperately to pin blame for the latest dogs’ dinner on the Scottish Police Authority.

Now under new management, this organisation have been thoroughly woeful. Hopefully that can now change.

But there’s a toxic legacy brewing that threatens to poison relations between government and police.

And by throwing some well-deserved criticism at the SPA, Matheson finds himself dragged further into the mess.

The whole Police Scotland structure was designed and made by the SNP Government.

So it may appear slightly ironic that they are now relying on former Scottish Labour health secretary Susan Deacon – the new broom at the SPA – to sort it out sharpish.

Meanwhile, rank and file officers struggle to get on with their vital job, and the public just want to know Scotland is being kept safe.