Police Scotland keen to retain strong links with UK and EU

The policing response to Brexit should be delivered at UK level while recognising Scotland’s “distinct constitutional arrangements”, police chiefs have agreed.

UK chief constables reached the agreement at a meeting on Monday, attended by Police Scotland Chief Constable Iain Livingstone.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson said it was agreed the response to Brexit should be delivered at a UK level, both in terms of the potential loss of existing law enforcement arrangements and preparations for any impact on operational policing. Mr Livingstone committed Police Scotland to supporting colleagues across the UK, particularly in Northern Ireland, in relation to operational policing.

Police Scotland said it hopes to maintain strong relations with forces across Europe and the UK.

Mr Johnson said: “We have no intelligence to suggest that there’s any likelihood of disorder in Scotland, but we will continue to assess this and will put measures in place to deal with any increase in crime.

“Police Scotland has been doing a lot of work in preparation for the potential impact of Brexit and a team has spent the past 18 months reviewing legislation, powers and processes.

“Our relationship with our colleagues in Europe is strong. It’s in everyone’s interests that we’re able to work together to keep the citizens of Scotland and the EU safe.”

One of the country’s most senior officers has warned a no-deal Brexit will make it harder for police to protect UK citizens as forces fall back on “slower, more bureaucratic” systems.

Sara Thornton, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, spoke as plans were unveiled for a new unit that will oversee how forces use alternative systems if the UK crashes out if the EU.