Calls to scrap BTP move into single force

The Scottish Conservatives are urging the Government to drop plans to give Police Scotland the British Transport Police responsibilities

Plans to bring the British Transport Police into the single force should be shelved according to the Scottish Conservatives

Under the Smith Commission, the powers of policing the country's rail network could be devolved to Police Scotland

But the Scottish Conservatives want a rethink after months of scandals, including the M9 road traffic collision which saw two people lying undiscovered for three days. 

Justice Spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell said:

"Police Scotland is in meltdown at the moment.
 
The last thing it needs is the extra responsibility of Scotland’s part of the British Transport Police.
 
The BTP is one of the most respected and successful arms of the justice system – so why would we hand it over to an organisation in crisis?
 
The single force has proved itself utterly incapable of dealing with even the most straightforward of calls.
 
It would be absolute folly to transfer this chaos onto Scotland’s rail network too."