Commenting after the Labour party debate on civilian police staff, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Alison McInnes said:
“Civilian staff play an absolutely vital role in supporting our police forces. The work they do as intelligence analysts, custody officers and community wardens allow our police officers to spend the maximum time possible out on the beat. They are key to the community-based, preventative policing model that we are currently blessed with in Scotland.
“But, the number of support staff employed by Scottish forces has already dropped alarmingly over recent years. We can ill-afford to lose the 2000 staff that look set to be among the first casualties of the SNP’s damaging police reform bill.
“Rather than focusing on developing the best model for policing in Scotland, the Government=92s reforms are set to be a huge backwards step in the way our police work to keep our communities safe. By rushing ahead with creating a single national police force, while simultaneously demanding unrealistic savings be made, they are risking undoing all the good work our police forces have done over the past decade.
“The Scottish Liberal Democrats are well aware of the importance of civilian staff to our police, and so we are determined to continue to oppose the Government’s damaging Police and Fire Reform Bill.”
