Transport cops call for U-turn on merger
BRITISH Transport Police officers made a last plea for Nicola Sturgeon to ditch merger plans yesterday.
The SNP Government are expected to edge a vote tonight transferring BTP officers to Police Scotland.
But Nigel Goodband, of the BTP federation who represent rank-and-file officers, said the move will downgrade services at a time of high terror threat.
He said: “We are strongly opposed to the integration and have serious concerns about public safety, the costs involved, implications on training and terms and conditions for our officers.
“The First Minister talks of desire for a single command structure but integration will create an unnecessary border.
“People don’t just travel within Scotland – millions of cross-country journeys are made every year and we police a single command structure across Britain.”
Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories have confirmed they will oppose the move but the Greens said they’ll side with the SNP, giving them a working majority to pass the legislation.
Scottish Labour justice spokeswoman Claire Baker MSP said: “Experts from across the field have warned of the risks this merger places on passenger safety.
“BTP officers are trained in policing our railways and particularly after the recent terrorist attacks, we shouldn’t risk losing that expertise.”