Watchdog: The chief kept us all out of loop

A former board member of the Scottish Police Authority blames ministers for politicising Scotland’s single force.

Douglas Yates, a former SNP councillor, said Police Scotland’s first chief constable, Stephen House, used to bypass the SPA and go directly to then justice secretary Kenny Macaskill.

He spoke out after current justice secretary Michael Matheson and his civil servants were accused of putting inappropriate pressure on police watchdogs.

Mr Yates, a former police officer, who also served as deputy leader of East Renfrewshire Council, said Sir Stephen kept the SPA “out of the loop” during his time at the head of the service.

He said: “Stephen House often went directly to the justice secretary Kenny Macaskill to float ideas or seek consent.

“A chief constable needs to have a good relationship with the Justice Secretary, but I was surprised he’d entertain Stephen House. I thought he’d tell him to talk to the SPA.

“I was disappointed he didn’t discourage that behaviour which kept us out of the loop.”

He added: “I suppose that was his way of operating, to make sure things got done. But it often meant there was no proper consultation process.”

Mr Yates also claimed the SPA was given “misinformation” by the force at various points during his four-year stint as a board member.

He said that members were given figures that were shown to be “inaccurate” by Freedom of Information requests.

Police Scotland said Mr Yates’ comments were a matter for the SPA.

The SPA did not comment.