Police Scotland Review

A comprehensive review of Police Scotland has been launched by Scottish Labour.

The party's Justice spokesperson, Graeme Pearson, has been tasked with assessing the effectiveness of the single police force.

The review will look at local accountability, staffing, targets and the relationship between Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority and Scottish Government ministers.

Since the creation of the single force in 2013 Police Scotland has faced a series of controversies, including the M9 car crash, cuts to civilian staff and services, and a lack of transparency over stop and search and armed officers. Last week Chief Constable Sir Stephen House announced he will be stepping down before the end of the year.
 
The Pearson Review will report back to Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale by the end of the year, and the proposals for reform will be included in the manifesto for 2016.
 
Graeme Pearson said: "Scotland's police officers are doing their best under very difficult circumstances. Instead of doing the job they trained for, too many are having to fill back office functions because of SNP Government cuts to civilian staff. 
 
"The failure over the M9 crash was the straw that broke the camel's back and exposed the many problems at the heart of Police Scotland today. 
 
"We supported the introduction of the single police force back in 2013, but something has gone badly wrong with its implementation. The resignation of Sir Stephen House was the right thing to do but the problems won't follow him out the exit door.
 
"Policing in Scotland needs a shake-up. We need to get back to the kind of community policing that made Scotland the envy of the world at one time. 
 
"Labour will be bold and radical in our approach to policing in Scotland. In the coming months I will travel the country speaking to those on the front line. Communities across Scotland, and the police officers themselves, deserve better."