Chief ’s plea to MSPs: Keep out of policing
‘Core policing is apolitical’
SCOTLAND’S top police boss has come under fire after suggesting issues relating to the single force should not be debated by politicians.
Acting Police Scotland chief Iain Livingstone said that policing issues should not be part of ‘political debate’.
He also indicated that he does not think politicians are qualified to criticise the force, saying policing is something ‘everyone has an opinion on regardless of experience or insight’.
Senior opposition politicians condemned the comments, saying they found it ‘disappointing’ that he believes MSPs should ignore the problems which the force is now facing.
Mr Livingstone, who postponed retirement to take over leadership of Police Scotland in September while allegations of gross misconduct against Chief Constable Phil Gormley are investigated, told a Sunday newspaper: ‘It would be helpful with issues around government policy and the political debate that goes on in Scotland if policing wasn’t part of that.
‘That’s what at times makes it difficult for senior officers and operational officers and staff, if policing gets moved around as a political issue. Core policing in its essence is apolitical.’
Mr Livingstone told Scotland on Sunday: ‘Policing is like football, it’s something everyone has an opinion on regardless of experience or insight.’
On the issue of armed policing he said: ‘Parliament should have an interest in armed policing but the practice of armed officers in Scotland is almost identical to the practice in England and Wales, yet I can’t remember the last time there was a debate on armed policing in Westminster. I would like to take policing out of the constant political debate and discussion and go back to policing as an apolitical public service based on human rights.’
Responding to the acting chief constable’s comments, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said last night: ‘It is disappointing that Iain Livingstone thinks we should ignore the state of one of our most important public services.
‘Liberal Democrats will always speak up when it matters, even if it is inconvenient for police chiefs and government ministers.
‘I will never apologise for questioning police centralisation, call centres, M9 crash, top-down target culture and massive reduction of experienced civilian staff.
‘I hope we can work together with Iain Livingstone but he needs to accept that our constituents expect us to ensure we have a police service that is up to the job of keeping us safe.’
Police Scotland’s leadership crisis intensified last month when Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins was one of four officers suspended as part of a probe into criminal and misconduct allegations which involved a further two officers being placed on restricted duties.
The officers all deny there was any wrongdoing.