Stirring Up Apathy
COSLA - the voice of Scottish local government - is apparently holding a conference tomorrow to debate the future of policing in Scotland.
COSLA has its knickers in a terrible twist about the Scottish government's plans to create a new single police force - covering the whole of Scotland - and dispense with the 8 we have currently.
No one I know seems remotely bothered about this - I have to say.
Who cares whether there is 1 or 8 police forces in Scotland - the issue is about effective policing and the best use of resources - 'bobbies not boundaries' as those in favour of the change like to say.
The problem with COSLA is that it's on the wrong side of the argument - yet again - doing what it does best in defending the 'status quo'.
Now there is an argument that local policing is more democratic and accountable - but how can anyone be daft enough to argue that local democracy is the key factor.
When the current Strathclyde Police Force covers a vast area, half the Scottish population - and has nothing to do with local democratic boundaries?
So the problem is not so much that the Scottish government doesn't listen to COSLA - it's that it just doesn't agree with COSLA and its clapped-out leadership.
I will be in Edinburgh tomorrow as it happens - but I won't be going along to COSLA's conference - because it sounds like a dreadful waste of time, effort and money.
COSLA has its knickers in a terrible twist about the Scottish government's plans to create a new single police force - covering the whole of Scotland - and dispense with the 8 we have currently.
No one I know seems remotely bothered about this - I have to say.
Who cares whether there is 1 or 8 police forces in Scotland - the issue is about effective policing and the best use of resources - 'bobbies not boundaries' as those in favour of the change like to say.
The problem with COSLA is that it's on the wrong side of the argument - yet again - doing what it does best in defending the 'status quo'.
Now there is an argument that local policing is more democratic and accountable - but how can anyone be daft enough to argue that local democracy is the key factor.
When the current Strathclyde Police Force covers a vast area, half the Scottish population - and has nothing to do with local democratic boundaries?
So the problem is not so much that the Scottish government doesn't listen to COSLA - it's that it just doesn't agree with COSLA and its clapped-out leadership.
I will be in Edinburgh tomorrow as it happens - but I won't be going along to COSLA's conference - because it sounds like a dreadful waste of time, effort and money.
