News

21 February 2012
NEW UNIFIED SERVICE TO COMMENCE OPERATION NEXT YEAR

The Police Service of Scotland is expected to begin operating from April 1 2013, the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland) has confirmed.

Chief Constable Kevin Smith, who is leading the police reform programme, said work was focussing on that date as the first day of the unified service responsible for delivering policing to communities across the length and breadth of the country.

Confirming the plan, Mr Smith said the service was committed to making the changes needed to move from the current structure of eight forces, the Scottish Police Services Authority and the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency to a unified service.

Mr Smith said the aim was to create a force which delivers high quality, responsive, effective and efficient policing within communities while also increasing capacity across the service at a national level. All of that needs to be delivered with a much reduced budget across both non-staff and staff costs.

He said: “This marks an important new chapter in the history of policing in Scotland. Right across the service, in each force and organisation, officers and staff are working on building the Police Service of Scotland.

“The proposed start date of April 1 2013 is just over 12 months away and there is a lot to be done in the next year to make the change necessary to have the new structure in place. Reform will not stop on the first day of the new organisation and the service will continue to take shape over the next five years to ensure its fit for purpose and makes the savings which are required in a challenging financial landscape.

“All of this work is taking place at the same time as we continue to deliver high levels of performance. We cannot and will not take our eye off the ball in delivering business as usual.”

Mr Smith said the staff associations – the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents and the Scottish Police Federation – and Unison, representing police staff, were all engaged in the programme of reform.

He said: “Our people are what make the police service tick. As we go through reform, leadership across the service will be important to make sure the Police Service of Scotland is delivered and that visible and responsive policing to communities continues at a high level.

Mr Smith added: “Scotland has a proud policing history which in the case of some of the forces stretches back for six decades. The advent of the Police Service of Scotland marks an important new era for everyone.”

The ACPOS President also confirmed the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland and their immediate command team would be based in the interim at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan, Fife.

Mr Smith said: “The public will still be able to access policing services as they would today. What Tulliallan provides is an interim command base for the new Chief Constable and their team which offers a practical and pragmatic solution to allow the new organisation to establish itself and the key relationships with the Scottish Police Authority. This will allow the new chief constable and the new Scottish Police Authority more to time to consider what they need in terms of a new headquarters for a new service, and where in Scotland that should be best situated. Support functions normally associated with Headquarters bases are expected to continue in the immediate future to be located throughout the country.”

David O’Connor, President of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents said:

"ASPS fully support the establishment of the new Police Service of Scotland on 1 April 2013 with the Headquarters at Tulliallan, Fife. We do not underestimate the scale of the challenge although recognise that there will be many positive community policing benefits. We believe that a pragmatic and incremental approach which focuses upon maintaining service delivery to the current high levels has to be a key part of the reform programme. There must also be a clear focus upon improving public and staff confidence during the course of the next year and beyond. We are proud of what we have in Scotland which makes us the envy of many countries around the world. The new Police Service of Scotland will provide the opportunity to improve it even further"

David Ross, Vice Chairman of the Scottish Police Federation said:

“The Scottish Police Federation recognises the scale of the challenge to create a new single police service in Scotland which will begin operating in April 2013. We are committed to working with all parties involved in the design and implementation of the new single service to ensure a smooth transition which maintains and where possible enhances the excellent service currently provided across Scotland and realises all the potential benefits from reform.”

Dave Watson, Head of Bargaining and Campaigns from UNISON said:

"We have a number of major issues which we will continue to challenge around the development of the Police Service of Scotland and what it means for police staff and their interests, in particular, but we are committed to engaging with the leadership of the service over the next year. We believe that a balanced workforce is needed to provide the best service for communities throughout the country with highly skilled police staff in a wide range of specialist roles playing a full part in the future of policing."


Issued by National Reform Communications Team
Andrew Walker
Tel 07768 552 272