Rail police merger plan more about centralisation of power than other benefits

If any further evidence is required of incompetence by the Scottish Government, look no further than the newly-published report by Ernst & Young as reported by Chris Marshall (“National force may not have ‘capacity or capability’ to police rail network”, The Scotsman, 11 July).

The due diligence report on the merger of the British Transport Police into Police Scotland, which was suppos- edly carried out before the proposals were promoted by the justice minister of the day, simply lacked the level of detail required.

Ministers were warned by all and sundry that their plans for integration of these services were flawed, that expertise would be lost and that is precisely what Ernst & Young have reported.

In the event of a major incident or other serious event, British Transport Police officers in Scotland can, and do, call upon their own national resources to assist.

It is doubtful whether Police Scotland can provide the same level of support. Yes, they could throw money and manpower at the problem but that is not the same as providing detailed and knowledgeable support in terms of manpower and expertise.

Working on and understandinghowtherailwayinfrastructure works requires a great deal of specialist knowledge; the British Transport Police have this knowledge, any dilution of the service provided currently is unnecessary and unwelcome.

Like most issues, ministers in the Scottish Government simply do not understand the impact of their decisions.

As with the formation of Police Scotland, this merger or take-over of the British Transport Police is more about the centralisation of power, regardless of the deleterious effect it will have, than achieving economic or efficiency benefits.

We have seen the catastrophic effect of the single police force for Scotland; power and control is centred on the chief constable who has a free rein to do what he or she likes, there is no one to hold them to account or advise except an inept Scottish Police Authority or an equally inept justice minister.

Before Police Scotland we had several chief constables who all had a say as to how national policing policies would be implemented.

This has been lost, and if this planned merger proceeds even more will be lost.

L. W. TURNBULL Edderston Road, Peebles