Willie Rennie in warning over police force power struggle
ByThe Courier Reporter
Willie Rennie, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, addresses the Liberal Democrat Annual Conference in Brighton. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday September 25, 2012. See PA story LIBDEMS Rennie. Photo credit should read: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
A POWER struggle at the head of the new single police force will lead to “a blame game” unless the law is changed to give the chief constable greater powers, Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has predicted.
Stephen House, Chief Constable of the new Police Service of Scotland, is locked in discussions with Vic Emery, chairman of civilian oversight body the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), over who should have control over the deployment of police staff.
The latest round of talks to find a resolution takes place today but Mr Rennie believes the SPA “is set to strip the chief constable of significant powers and impose three new powerful group directors over whom the chief constable will have no control”.
He told MSPs yesterday: “The chief constable has called for new legislation and both sides have spent thousands hiring lawyers to fight each other.”
Alex Salmond said he believes the situation is “capable of resolution” and called on MSPs to wait for the resolution of today’s meeting before rushing to judgment.
Willie Rennie in warning over police force power struggle
