Police Scotland shows what can go wrong, says Home Secretary

Police Scotland should serve as a warning against calls for the creation of a single force in England and Wales, Theresa May has said.

The Westminster Home Secretary said supporters of a lone or larger force should be “wary and careful” following the merger north of the border.

Police Scotland has faced severe criticism after it took three days to respond to a fatal crash on the M9 as well as over its use of armed officers on routine patrol and its stop and search policy.

At a lunch with journalists in Westminster, Mrs May said there had been “real operational issues” for the force.

“I think the way that Police Scotland has been brought together shows that one should be very wary and careful about the idea by those who say that forming a single police force or larger police forces is the answer to everything,” she said.

“Obviously there have been some real operational issues for them but also I think I am right in saying they still haven’t really properly put a full business case together.”