Fresh call to ‘chart a different course’ on Scottish rail policing merger
Rail staff and Labour politicians have joined forces to demand an end to the merger between Police Scotland and British Transport Police (BTP).
Three rail unions accused the Scottish government of “press ganging BTP officers into Police Scotland for political purposes” as they asked Transport Secretary Michael Matheson to rethink the plans.
In his previous role as Justice Secretary, Mr Matheson took the lead for the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill that was due to see the forces combine by April 2019.
The merger has since been delayed while a new timetable is drawn up.
Scottish Labour’s connectivity spokesperson, Colin Smyth, said: “The summer recess gives Mr Matheson the opportunity to chart a different course for Scotland’s railways once he returns to Holyrood in his new role.
“Labour hopes that he listens to BTP officers, and the rest of the industry, and bins this divisive policy.”
In February, Mr Matheson announced the plans to combine Police Scotland and BTP’s operations north of the border were to be put on hold to allow more time to engage with police and transport staff associations.
The Scottish government believes merging the two forces is the most efficient and effective way of delivering railway policing in the country.
However, Police Scotland’s acting Chief Constable Iain Livingstone warned the April 2019 delivery date would not be possible without compromising public safety.
The latest criticism of the merger is a combined call from Scottish Labour, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association, the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, and the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union (RMT).
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “The Scottish government’s plans to merge the BTP in Scotland with Police Scotland would jeopardise specialist policing standards, not to mention presenting the Scottish taxpayer, passengers, staff and operators with a ballooning bill for a sub-standard service.
“We repeat our call on the Scottish government to see sense and to re-start the consultation process on a more inclusive footing which seeks to maintain and improve specialist railway policing in Scotland, rather than press ganging BTP officers into Police Scotland for political purposes.”
A Scottish government spokesperson said it is committed to the “safe and seamless” integration of the two forces.
They added: “We have confirmed that our triple lock guarantee will protect jobs, pay and pensions for BTP officers transferring to Police Scotland.
“We meet regularly with all partners in the integration and will continue to work closely with them on addressing the issues that emerge.”