Terror attacks show need for police merger, says First Minister

Recent terror attacks in London and Manchester highlight the reasons for controversial plans to merge British Transport Police with Police Scotland, the First Minister has said.

Nicola Sturgeon stressed the importance of having a “unified command structure”, and also argued the merger would give officers more access to specialist resources such as Police Scotland's counter-terrorist unit.

She was speaking as she came under pressure from Labour and the Liberal Democrats to put legislation which will merge the two forces north of the border on hold as a result of the “turmoil” at Police Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon said: “What we have seen in recent weeks highlights the reasons for integration rather than takes away from those reasons.

“The British Transport Police play a hugely valuable role in our keeping our railways safe and we will ensure that railway policing is always strong and accountable to the people of Scotland.

“But the reasons for integration are to improve the way that our policing operates in a coherent and joined up fashion.

“Some of what I have witnessed in recent times in terms of the police response to some of the awful terrorist attacks we have seen have shown that that kind of co-ordination is to the benefit, not just the police but public across Scotland as well.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie challenged Ms Sturgeon on the issue as a new report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) found “shortcomings” in the capacity of John Foley, chief executive of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) watchdog.

HMICS branded this a “fundamental weakness” in governance arrangements at the SPA - whose chair Andrew Flanagan recently announced he would be stepping amidst criticism from MSPs and others.

Mr Rennie demanded to know if the “turmoil will now end” as he told the First Minister: “Our police officers and staff deserve better, they cannot go on year after year facing these barriers to their good work.

“In those circumstances is it really wise of her to merge the British Transport Police into this organisation, as she proposed to do next week?”

Labour's Neil Bibby also pressed Ms Sturgeon on the issue at First Minister's Questions, saying the merger of the two forces is one that “workers do not want and passengers do not need”.

The British Transport Police Federation has called for the Railway Policing Bill to be put on hold while the transport network is at risk from terrorism, he said.

Mr Bibby said: “Our British Transport Police officers do a fantastic job to protect the public, the question for the First Minister is will she listen to our police officers and drop this Bill, or will she press on regardless and ignore these serious warnings from our police officers?”

Ms Sturgeon acknowledged the seriousness of the matter, but added: “Integration here is about providing a single command structure for policing in Scotland so there is access to wider support facilities and specialist resources, which include Police Scotland's counter-terrorism capabilities.

“We've seen an increase in armed police response in response to recent events, for example at transport hubs. That is a response which is not provided by the British Transport Police, it is a response provided by Police Scotland.

“It's not about undermining the functions the British Transport Police provide, they do an excellent response, it's about making sure there is a unified command structure, that there is more access to specialist resources and our police services works in that joined up co-ordinated way.