Fears of rise in crime under single police force
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CRIME levels in Inverness will increase if plans for a single police force are implemented, according to the new interim chairman of Crimestoppers Scotland.
Jim Ferguson prefers a switch to a regional force, but stresses his organisation will work with whatever system is introduced after the Scottish Parliament elections on 5th May.
Last week Northern Constabulary’s new chief constable, George Graham, and the Northern Joint Police Board both came out against one police authority for Scotland when they met to discuss a Scottish Government consultation on the future of policing.
Mr Graham said radical alterations would be costly, disruptive and distracting.
He argued there were risks involved and the level and quality of service and public confidence in the police could be affected.
His views are being echoed by Mr Ferguson, who predicts the combination of reduced policing and unemployment rates in wider society could lead to more crime.
“If we have a single police force then there is a danger that the community policing aspect, as well as the knowledge and understanding of the Highlands and Islands might be lost,” commented Mr Ferguson, who is also chairman of Inverness Crime Prevention Panel.
“More crime may not be a direct result of a single police force, but my concern is that it might lose the good community spirit that forces like Northern Constabulary already have, so it might be more of an indirect result rather than a direct consequence.
“If it was up to me I would be increasing police budgets in readiness for the increase in crime levels.”
Police board members decided to back the retention of all eight forces in Scotland and were unanimously opposed to the idea of a single force
Mr Feguson added: “As far as Crimestoppers is concerned, we will work with whatever the government decides to do whether that is a regional force; things staying the same or it becomes a single police force — we will work with the powers that be to support law and order.
“But if I could choose what was going to happen, I would be quite interested in a regional police force and I would be keen to see Northern Constabulary taking on a bigger remit.
“It might be a bit of a compromise, rather than just going straight to a single police force which might be too far with too much change.”
A regional police model could include the addition of Argyll, Bute and Moray, to form a North of Scotland force.
andrew.dixon@inverness-courier.co.uk
