BBC report on former Police Scotland chief calls into question SPA competence
How interesting that your 30 April report, “Ex-police chief in threat to suppress damaging report”, was followed by the BBC documentary A Force in Crisis, screened the same day. It seems that in the documentary we have irrefutable evidence that there has indeed been political interference in the running of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA).
Also, during this programme, two former members of the SPA were very surprised that an investigation had been commissioned by the Chief Constable, Stephen House, into the problems of Police Scotland. They were even more surprised to read various drafts of the report which set out very clearly what the investigation found. One of the principal findings related to the culture of fear promulgated by the Chief Constable.
However, as evidenced in your newspaper, the entire section relating to the fear issue was removed before publication. A strong and independent SPA would have known about the report and would not have allowed the Chief Constable to alter it to suit his own agenda and that of the Scottish Government.
What this sorry sequence of events tells us is that the SPA was not fit for purpose, nor were its members up to the task of holding a bullying Chief Constable to account. It was clear from a very early stage that Sir Stephen House was taking an aggressive stance in driving through change to satisfy his political paymasters. It is difficult not to assume that a supineandineffectivespawas necessary to allow him to rule unfettered. The responsibility for this lies fairly and squarely on the shoulders of the Justice Ministers who appointed members to the SPA.
And, as reported in the Scotsman (1 May), the “Search begins for Scotland’s Police Chief ”. It is three months since Philip Gormley resigned, after what seems to be a botched investigation, which has left many unanswered questions. This is detrimental to natural justice for all parties. The SPA Chair, Susan Deacon, says: “… the appointment is of critical importance… and a matter of significant public interest”. If it is so significant and important, why has it taken so long to set the wheels in motion?
Had there been a full and proper review of the role of the SPA, then this delay would be understandable, but there has been no such review. In the meantime the force is left in limbo; it is difficult for the temporary Chief Constable to make the changes he believes might be necessary whilst acting as caretaker. Two conclusions come to mind: the SPA, under its relatively new Chair, is still not fit for purpose; members are unable or unwilling to act quickly; and Justice Minister Michael Matheson is not up to the job: he has let this situation persist to the detriment of the force and Scotland.
Why has there been no comment from the Justice Minister?
LW TURNBULL Edderston Road, Peebles The latest report on Police officer numbers indicate they are now at the lowest level in nine years despite many promises by the SNP administration to put more policemen on the street to keep our streets safe.
Police Scotland, since its formation, has seen the closure of many police offices and control centres, with Dundee now remaining as the furthest North centre, to cover the biggest area of Scotland.
The buck stops with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon but it is difficult for her to know where to start with the vast range of ongoing problems with Police Scotland senior management and the SPA being not fit for purpose. DENNIS FORBES GRATTAN
Mugiemoss Road Bucksburn, Aberdeen