Nicola Sturgeon is trying to railroad through the integration of transport police into the national force when officers and commuters do not want it, says Ruth Davidson.
The Scottish Conservatives leader said the centralisation plan smacks of the troubles surrounding the creation of Scotland’s single police force, which has been mired by operational and financial problems.
The party leaders clashed on the return of First Minister’s Question after summer recess, in which the Scottish Labour called for a review into why thousands of Scottish children referred for mental health treatment were knocked back.
Ms Davidson reeled off a list of comments from British Transport Police officers who she said had deep reservations about the integration plan, which is in the SNP’s programme for government.
“The First Minister thinks she knows better than police officers,” the Edinburgh Central MSP said.
“But the fact it’s very hard to escape the conclusion that when it comes to the Scottish Government, good practice always plays second fiddle to pretty shoddy politics.
“The Scottish Transport Police Federation doesn’t want this.
“Rank-and-file officers on our railways don’t want this and the public sees absolutely no need to change, but just as with the single police force, the SNP Government wants to grab more control and wants to ram this through regardless.”
She said while the First Minister had launched a listening exercise on independence, she had turned a “deaf ear” to police.
Ms Sturgeon said integration will allow BTP to tap into the local, specialist and national resources of Police Scotland, while maintaining its own specific remit.
“That appears to be to be a common sense way of proceeding. Perhaps it’s so common sense that’s why it eludes the Conservative party,” she said.
She said the SNP had protected officer numbers, while they fell in England, as Scotland enjoyed a 41-year low for recorded crime.
She added the Scottish Government will “fully consult and listen to all views”.
Nigel Goodband, the chairman of British Transport Police Federation, said they have not yet seen a “convincing argument” on how integration would benefit the travelling public.
“It is our view that policing of the rail network in Scotland is best delivered by the specially trained officers and staff of the British Transport Police,” he said.
“Our members’ achievements in reducing crime and increasing public satisfaction – in an era of increasing passenger numbers – have been recognised by the Scottish Government.
“We believe this successful policing model will be put at risk if it is subsumed into a routine policing environment; one which is already struggling to provide a service and has well-reported financial issues.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale called for a review into why 9,000 children wanting mental health treatment were refused it after being referred.
“Since January last year more than 9,000 Scottish children have been referred for mental health treatment only to have that referral rejected or denied,” she said.
“The First Minister must order a review of these rejected referrals.”
Her party has outlined a plan to support children and young people’s mental health, which includes guaranteeing every secondary school has access to an experienced counsellor.
