Lords told police merger is a threat to fight against terrorists

MERGING British Transport Police with Police Scotland would threaten the fight against terrorism, peers have been told.

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock highlighted a great and growing concern about the move, which he claimed was the result of “party political dogma” from the SNP.

Speaking in a debate in the House of Lords, the Labour peer said there were only two specialist counter-terrorist forces in the whole of the UK: the Metropolitan Police and the BTP.

“As we know only too well, sadly, terrorists know no boundaries so anti-terror forces need to work across the boundaries,” he said.

“The merger would jeopardise an effective fight against terrorism.”

The Labour peer said there was a “sensible alternative”.

“The BTP could remain intact but the Chief Constable would report to the Scottish Parliament and to Scottish Government Ministers on all operations in Scotland and all issues affecting Scotland,” he said.

He called on David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary, to ask the Scottish Government to “accept this sensible and reasonable option”. He also urged Chris Grayling, the Transport Secretary, to withhold the transfer of assets to the BTP “unless there is a sensible arrangement for devolution”.

Tory peer Lord Forsyth branded the merger an “act of vandalism”.

He said: “At a time when we are threatened by lone wolf terrorists, travelling around the country, when we have seen attacks in Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham, what on earth could be driving this?”

The SNP refuses to nominate peers for the House of Lords.