Tory leader Ruth Davidson yesterday accused Nicola Sturgeon of trying to railroad through the integration of transport police into the national force when officers and commuters do not want it.
The Scottish Conservatives leader tore into the SNP’s plans for absorbing British Transport Police into Police Scotland during FMQs.
The BTP Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, joined in after FMQs to warn that railway policing will be “put at risk” if it is “subsumed” into the “struggling” single police force.
Ms Davidson said: “The first minister thinks she knows better than police officers.
“But the fact it’s very hard to escape the conclusion that when it comes to the Scottish Government, good practice always plays second fiddle to pretty shoddy politics.”
Ms Sturgeon said integration will allow BTP to tap into the local, specialist and national resources of Police Scotland, while maintaining its own specific remit.
“That appears to be to be a common sense way of proceeding. Perhaps it’s so common sense that’s why it eludes the Conservative party,” she said.
She said the SNP had protected officer numbers, while they fell in England, as Scotland enjoyed a 41-year low for recorded crime.
She added the Scottish Government will “fully consult and listen to all views”.
