New police board

THE FIGHT for democracy and local representation on the government’s planned new single Scottish police authority has begun.

On Friday Shetland South councillor Allison Duncan said a meeting of the regional police board had made it quite clear that people in the highlands and islands wanted local committees to maximise local accountability.

He also said all three island groups and Highland Council opposed government proposals to have a police board dominated by selected appointees.

The government has proposed a board of seven selected and four elected members of the Scottish Police Authority.

Mr Duncan said: “The message came across quite strongly from the highlands and islands that we don’t want selection, we want election and more members on the board.”

Northern Constabulary’s chief constable George Graham has promised to take the opinions on board for further discussion.