Leave police be

Yes, the justice secretary’s post should be carefully scrutinised. However, it is the structure of the service in Scotland that has to be reviewed.

It is inappropriate for the police force in a democracy to be under the control of central government. There should be three or four forces in Scotland, each under local police

boards. There requires to be local accountability. The same applies to the fire and rescue service although they attract less attention from government and have adapted better to the centralised structure.

JOHN KELLY High Street, Dalkeith