IAIN SMITH FIGHTING TO KEEP FIFE POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES LOCAL
April 12, 2011 1:08 PM
Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP candidate Iain Smith is campaigning to keep Fife's Police and Fire service local and opposes the reckless plans of the Tories, SNP and Labour to centralise them by creating single Scottish Police and fire authorities based in the central belt.
By creating a national police force, the chief constable would come under the political control of a government minister and will lose their accountability and links to local communities.
In a recent national poll of 25 priorities for Scotland the idea of a single, national police force comes third from bottom, while maintaining the number of officers on the beat came second highest. The costs of creating a national force are estimated by the Scottish Government itself at £92 million and according to Chief Constables, the move would threaten the jobs of over 3000 officers.
Iain Smith said, "Centralised Police and Fire authorities based in Glasgow is bad news for local policing, bad news for community safety and bad news for Fife. Reported crime in Fife is down and detection is increasing. This is because our police force responds to our local needs, not those of Glasgow. It would also put at risk the future of our fire stations throughout North East Fife.
"Any plan to centralise our local police and fire service is reckless and completely removes local accountability and local needs. Only the Liberal Democrats will protect our local police and Fire services. Please back our campaign."
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