The ability to continue to deliver the level of community-based policing the people of Tayside currently enjoy is the most important outcome of any changes to the structure of Scotland’s police forces, according to Tayside Police Chief Constable Justine Curran.
Speaking to The Courier during an engagement at the Castlebrae Police Treatment Centre in Auchterarder, Ms Curran voiced her thoughts on the current debate.
She said that, given the present financial constraints facing public sector spending, change was inevitable and she and her colleagues in Tayside were not resistant to change.
Ms Curran said she had no “set view” on what the structure should be but she thought it was vital to have an ongoing input into the debate to ensure the best possible result for the people of Tayside.
Whatever the eventual outcome, which she said would inevitably involve compromise, the chief constable said it was imperative that remoteness did not creep into policing in Tayside where they prided themselves on being a “listening” force.
“For me it is all about communities, it is all about being able to deliver the best policing to those communities,” said Ms Curran. “We listen to communities, respond to them and are locally accountable. I am committed that we do not lose those qualities.
“We know it has got to be looked at, but I do not have a set view on the structure.”
Ms Curran said it should not matter to the public what badges local police officers wore, the quality of the service was the most important criterion.
“We are not resistant to change but making sure that we do not lose any elements, that is important,” she said.
Tayside Police was committed to reform and as part of that progress was taking part in a national look at how policing was delivered north of the border, along with representatives from all the other Scottish forces and other organisations.
They were also actively involved in introducing collaborative working with other forces, councils and Tayside Fire and Rescue in an effort to trim costs.The chief constable was present as representatives of Tayside Police’s Benevolent Fund made a donation of £5000 to the centre. Centre manager Paul Grant accepted the cheque from Ms Curran, Sergeant Malcolm Gibbs from the Tayside Police Federation and Alex McKenzie from the Retired Police Officer”s Association.