Policing farce

Kenny Macaskill [former justice minister] was the architect of Police Scotland. He was well-advised that it was not a good idea and would not be successful. He stated that creation of the new force would

“save £183m within five years and a massive £1.9bn over 15”.

The situation now is that Police Scotland is facing a black hole of £190m. Caroline Gardner, auditor-general for Scotland, states it is “unacceptable” that Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority have displayed such financial incompetence (report, December 2016). It would appear that morale is low and senior management in meltdown. How ironic that Mr Macaskill is now calling for greater support from the Scottish Government and Holyrood more generally due to a “leadership gap” in Police Scotland.

Police Scotland was another example from the SNP of narrow, dangerous, all-controlling nationalism, completely out of control as it focussed 100 per cent of its time and effort on the main issue – separation. The Scottish Government cannot oversee Police Scotland efficiently and now they are to take over rail policing in Scotland – let’s wait and see what a Horlicks they will make of this – done, I suspect, to remove “British” from British Transport Police in Scotland.

DOUGLAS COWE Kingseat, Newmachar