Anger over threat to devolve Scottish BT Police powers

摘要

A major row has flared up over plans by the Scottish Government for its national police force to take over the work of the British Transport Police north of the border. Scottish Justice Secretary Michael Matheson wants to integrate railway policing when responsibility for the specialist service is devolved in 2016. The Labour Party's justice spokesman, Hugh Henry, said: "It was agreed that the functions of the BT Police should be devolved with accountability to the Scottish government and Scottish parliament. We did not agree to the BTP being scrapped and services being delivered by Police Scotland. Dissolving the BTP into Police Scotland is yet another attempt to centralise services and reduce accountability."