Police control

I CANNOT help wondering if the idea of a single police force for Scotland is so that Alex Salmond and Kenny McAskill – presuming he stays at his present post – can exercise greater control over law and order and those who do the job.

Eight forces down to one seems like a money-saver yet may be less effective at local level where people want visible policing. We would do well to keep in mind the words of Petronius in 26AD:

“I was to learn later in life we tend to meet any new situation by reorganising, and what a wonderful method it is for creating an illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency and demoralisation.”

Of course, it could be that the Scottish Government wants Scotland’s police forces to be run like London’s Metropolitan Police force.

Jim Craigen

Downie Grove

Edinburgh