Beware of any knee-jerk reaction about the police

I AGREE with Ron Lavalette (Letters July 14) that we are approaching a time when we require to think again about the management of the police service in Scotland. Since Sir Stephen House is intending to leave his post as Chief Constable in September next year, I suggest there is an urgency about a comprehensive review.

However, I also feel that we should not do so as a simple knee-jerk reaction to the recent tragic deaths of two people after their car left the M9 motorway. The incident prompts many questions. It is only because of the shocking circumstances that this accident has remained in the public eye. This begs the question – how often since the Police Service of Scotland was established has this type of reporting error happened but without such tragic consequences?

Indeed, the whole question of what mechanism exists for public opinion to inform the priorities our police service act on should be embedded in any review. For example, the Police Service recently stated that as a policy against drink driving they will pull over a motorist every two minutes in Scotland this summer. While not wishing to detract in any way from the destructive effects on many lives a drunk driver can cause, the statistic is hardly what I might categorise as impressive policing. Pulling in a drug dealer every two minutes would be.

If we must have a Police Scotland body then I would not be opposed to a review which recommended suggesting two types of separate police organisations, as in some continental countries, national and also local with distinctive and clearly delineated remits.

Nevertheless, I am certain that the centralisation policies of the SNP Government are now being revealed for what they really are – desperate attempts to maintain power through control. Bill Brown, 46 Breadie Drive, Milngavie.