Controversial rail policing merger hit by schedule delay

● Matheson forced to put plans on hold after fears over integration

Controversial plans to integrate railway policing into Police Scotland have been thrown into doubt after the scheduled start date was delayed.

It was announced yesterday the merger of British Transport Police (BTP) and Police Scotland would not be possible by April next year as previously planned.

Police Scotland said it had become clear the integration would not be achieved by that date without “compromising public safety”. The national force is due to assume responsibility for railway policing under legislation passed last year by the Scottish Parliament, despite concerns from the railway industry, staff associations and trade unions.

But there are unresolved issues around the integration of IT systems and how the terms and conditions of officers transferring from BTP to Police Scotland will be protected.

Following a meeting of the Joint Project Board, which is made up by representatives of the police and Scottish and UK governments, it was decided the implementation plan could not continue as planned.

Justice secretary Michael Matheson said: “The Scottish and UK governments are working together to ensure the legislation passed by par-

0 ‘Profound sense of anger’ among British Transport Police officers liament last year is implemented as effectively as possible.

“While a later integration date is disappointing, it will provide all partners with the opportunity to enhance the process of engagement, in particular with officers, staff and their representatives on key issues.”

In a statement released yesterday, Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said it had become clear the integration plans could not be put in place by April next year without “compromising public safety”.

The announcement of the delay comes ahead of the publication of an independent report on the planned integration due to be published today that surveyed serving BTP officers.

Writing in The Scotsman today, one of the report’s authors, Dr Kath Murray, said there was a “profound sense of loss and anger” among some of those on the force.

She said: “For many BTP officers and staff, the impact of integration is huge. That most respondents do not support the merger, while many have already given serious consideration to leaving railway policing, provides a robust measure of this.

“The importance of these findings is underscored by the simple precept that successful organisational change requires consensus and trust.”

No new date for the integration has been given, but the Scottish Government has said it remains committed to seeing the legislation applied. Plans to provide free school meals 365 days a year to children from poor households to help tackle “holiday hunger” have been approved by councillors.

North Lanarkshire Council agreed to expand its free meal entitlement to cover the 175 days of the year when pupils are not at school during weekends and school holidays.

A pilot scheme will take place in Coatbridge during the Easter holidays which, following evaluation, would be extended to cover the whole council area in timeforthesummerbreak.

The programme would be delivered at 23 “hubs” across the authority area, usually in community facilities, at an estimated cost of £500,000 a year.

Education convener Frank Mcnally said: “These proposals to tackle weekend and holiday hunger are the most ambitious in the country.

“Groups like the Trussell Trust are struggling to cope with demand from parents and research has suggested that pressure on foodbanks doubles during the holidays. North Lanarkshire has one of the highest concentrations of deprivation in the country.”

More than one in five (21 per cent) children in North Lanarkshire live in low income households.