Dave Thompson MSP

MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Dave Thompson, welcomed cross party support for a north police hub after Dave Stewart MSP came in behind his campaign for police jobs in the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Thompson asked the Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday to confirm that cross party support would enhance the North’s chances of being designated as a hub. Mr MacAskill stated that, “I am aware that Dave Thompson has pursued the issue doggedly for some time. I can only reiterate that the Government expects such functions [as mountain rescue, corporate services, firearms licensing, wildlife crime and rural road policing] to be located in a variety of places.” He said that would “be decided by the new chief constable, whoever he or she is, in conjunction with the new police authority.

Mr Thompson said, “I am determined to ensure that police jobs are not concentrated in the central belt but are shared out across regional hubs, particularly the Highlands and Islands. We have expertise in the Highlands and Islands on various functions, such as mountain rescue and rural road policing. It would not make sense if decisions made about such matters took place in the central belt. We can also provide any of the corporate services the new Police Force will need.

“In order to work towards securing jobs in the Highlands, I have been holding meetings which have cross party support and which are attended by representatives of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Police and Fire Boards and Highland and Island Councils. We are building a persuasive case to ensure that the Highlands have a police hub and that we benefit from that.

Notes:

Mr Thompson’s question: I am sure that Dave Stewart agrees that there is cross-party support in the Highlands and Islands for support jobs and back-room functions to be based in the north. Will the cabinet secretary confirm that that cross-party support will be an important factor when the Scottish police authority and the chief constable make decisions in due course?

Kenny MacAskill: Absolutely. I am aware that Dave Thompson has pursued the issue doggedly for some time. I give him the same assurance as I gave Unison when I addressed its conference last week, which is that we expect support jobs not to be concentrated in the central belt but to be located across Scotland.