Common Sense on police – Scottish Conservatives want locally elected Commissioners

Scottish Conservatives want locally elected police commissioners.

Speaking outside Selkirk Police Station, John Lamont, Scottish Conservative Justice Spokesperson and candidate for Ettrick, Roxburgh & Berwickshire, said:

"Scottish Conservatives forced the SNP Government to put 1,000 extra police on our street. The SNP had tried to deliver a mere 500 and Labour promised none whatsoever. We delivered those 1,000 extra police and we are committed to retaining those extra officers in the next parliament.

"But we can do more. The public want to feel a real connection with their police. We need local accountability for local people.

"Because we are committed to local policing and local accountability, we will replace Police Boards with elected local Police Commissioners, each covering a local area.

"Giving people democratic control of the police is a huge step forward, but it is not enough. We need to give local people the information and direct powers they need to challenge their neighbourhood police teams to cut crime.

"So we will oblige the police to publish very detailed local crime data statistics every month, including crime maps, and require police teams to have regular neighbourhood beat meetings so they know what people's priorities are.

"It is common sense to strengthen ties between police and the people they serve, and directly elected police commissioners are a hugely positive step in that direction."

Our locally elected commissioners will hold local police to account but will not be involved in police operational issues. They would also work with the new sentencing and rehabilitation service we propose.

Collectively, they would provide strategic direction throughout Scotland, sharing best practice. They would be elected at local elections and share terms of office with councillors.

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