Date: 17
Jan 2012
A new Bill to
create a single Scottish police force could have a damaging effect on law and
order if it signals a fresh round of cuts to police staff, UNISON Scotland said
today. The union, which organises police support staff across Scotland,
identified cuts and funding as major areas of concern following the publication
of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill which was published today by
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.
Peter Veldon,
Regional Organiser for UNISON’s Scottish police staff,
said:
“Any reform
of public services should be in the best interests of the people of Scotland.
However, as we argued in our response to the consultation on this Bill, the
main motivation for a unitary police body appears to be focussed on saving
money.
“There are a
number of areas of concern surrounding the Bill which will affect our members –
and thus threaten delivery of police services.
“The new
Scottish Police Authority will be expected to achieve savings of between £88m
and £151m per year.
“Meanwhile,
if the Chief Constable of the new force is still under the constraint of
maintaining police officer numbers, this will mean the burden of any cuts will
be aimed squarely at police staff.
“There is also still a great deal of
uncertainty over the VAT liability issue which could see the Scottish Police
Authority paying the treasury £22m per year whilst trying to achieve huge
savings.”
UNISON
Scotland argued in its consultation response that ‘taking trained operational
police officers off the streets to perform administrative tasks – at greater
cost - is economic madness’.”
ENDS
Note to
editors
1. UNISON is
Scotland’s largest trade union representing over 162,000
members
working in the public sector in Scotland, and represents
police
staffs in
Scotland.
2. UNISON
Scotland’s document ‘Future of Policing in Scotland - Response to Scottish
Government consultation’ published in May 2011 is available on our
website:
.
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