Any savings from the merger Scotland’s police forces must not lead to a deterioration in policing in Tayside, the region’s police joint board convener has said.
Tayside Police has 1241 police officers, 169 special constables and 629 support staff.
Councillor Ian MacKintosh said bringing Scotland’s eight police forces into fewer bodies or a single organisation was an issue that needed careful consideration, as changes pursued in the interests of efficiency or economy might not succeed.
Given the intention to preserve front-line policing numbers, it is thought savings would most likely result from cutting administration and back office or support tasks and jobs where there may be duplication or wastage.
The Tayside convener said, “There is a lot of vital administration and back office work that affects front-line policing, and my view is that if you go down that road you have to be able to identify that the quality of policing will not diminish.
“It is only with proper administration that front-line policing can do its job properly, but if there is a lack of direction then that quality of policing may be affected.
“If that happens, is there a risk that you have to take bobbies off the beat to do the vital support work?”
He added, “It may be that long-term savings can be achieved and maintained by examining and questioning every piece of work that police carry out asking the question-if that is not done will it affect the lives of Tayside citizens?
“You also have to be careful that if you cut one aspect of police work, you are not creating a knock-on cost somewhere else or in another public service.
“If you try to make savings in road traffic policing for example, is there a risk that you will just move that cost or create a greater cost within the National Health Service if there are more people being injured in road traffic accidents?
“That is an example of the type of question that must be asked.”Proof of qualityMr MacKintosh said that there was also the issue of local accountability, a strength of the existing set-up with police boards answerable to local people.
He asked whether the public be better served by fewer boards or a single board with a chairman or chief constable for Scotland appointed by ministers.
Mr MacKintosh added, “My view is that if you can prove that the quality of the service can be maintained, then you can look at mergers and all that it entails.”
The revelation that Scotland’s police chiefs were looking at merging the eight forces north of the border was made in September, with the options that there could be three covering east, west and north or even one.
The rearrangement was a response to the fact efficiencies already identified will not be enough to meet the likely challenges in the coming years.
The following month Mr Salmond gave the issue added impetus with his “bobbies before boundaries” comment, and Tayside Police said there would be a significant cut in its budget, with estimates of reductions of between 16% and 25% over four years.
In November Tayside councillors opposed any cut in the number of forces, with Councillor Archie MacLellan pointing to joint working as his favoured way ahead.
Chief Constable Justine Curran said a group comprising Tayside, Fife, central and Lothian and Borders forces was examining the potential for collaborative work.
They were investigating roads policing, firearms provision, legal services and training, and there was to be further work to establish the extent of savings.
There was also consultation with council on savings through rationalisation of CCTV, and Ms Curran said savings would likely be made in cutting administration costs for each force.