No sign of SIA licences in Scotland, but a range of new measures to support the police were unveiled by the Scottish Executive.
The proposals, set out in the consultation paper, Supporting police, protecting communities, include:
Bringing in new measures to tackle knife crime including doubling the maximum penalty for carrying a knife in public from two to four years, giving the police the unconditional power to arrest someone suspected of carrying a knife, and increasing the minimum age for buying a knife from 16 to 18.
Introducing football banning orders to tackle football related violence or the incitement of sectarianism, racism or other hatred, at grounds and other flashpoints before and after games.
Encouraging those accused of crimes to give information and evidence to the police and prosecutors about others involved in serious and organised crime, in return for reduced sentences.
Introducing mandatory drug testing and referral, upon arrest, for anyone aged 16 or over suspected of a drugs or drugs-related offence, to encourage them into treatment, reduce their levels of drug dependence and tackle drug-related crime.
Establishing a new independent body to investigate non-criminal complaints against the police and ensure Scotland has a modern, transparent complaints system.
Bringing together common police services such as the Scottish Police College and the Scottish Criminal Record Office, along with the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency into a single authority, to ensure services are delivered effectively and efficiently, and to improve accountability
It also includes proposals to improve the way decisions are taken on marches and parades in line with the recommendations in Sir John Orr’s review of marches and parades, published last month.
What they say
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said: "Scotland has an excellent police service and we have continued to invest to ensure we have a record number of officers to support that service. However, as well as providing resources, the police must have appropriate powers to protect communities and meet the ever changing nature of crime.
"Today, I am outlining a range of new proposals which will support officers in the challenges they face. Some reforms, including strengthening the role and remit of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency, will help us deal with the threat posed by serious and organised crime. Others such as football banning orders and measures to tackle knife crime, will help us address the impact of violence and disorder on our streets.
"We are also bringing forward a range of practical measures to assist the police in their day to day work. We plan to give them the power to take finger prints while out on the beat – once the new technology is available – and increase the police’s powers of arrest for those they believe are carrying a knife in public.
"However, as well as increasing police powers we are increasing accountability. The consultation paper takes forward our pledge to create an independent police complaints body that will have a wide ranging remit, including the power to ensure rigorous oversight of the way all non-criminal complaints from the public against the police are handled. We also propose creating a new structure for managing common police services to make these services more accountable to Ministers, Parliament and the public, increase their efficiency and effectiveness, and ensure any savings made are targeted towards frontline policing.
"Overall, I believe these proposals will be of substantial benefit to the police and public. They will ensure the service has the tools as well as the resources to meet the challenges of modern policing so that it can continue to deliver a high level of service to communities and we reduce not just people’s experience of crime but also their fear of crime."
ACPOS says
The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland welcomed the publication of the consultation document. Chief Constable David Strang, President of ACPOS, said: "The core purpose of policing is to protect communities from those who would damage or destroy them. The police service is committed to making Scotland a safer place for individuals and for wider communities. The Police Service in Scotland enjoys a high level of support from the public. The measures proposed in this consultation paper will further support the police in the important work they do. The proposals will enhance the ability of the police to deal with crimes at both a local and a national level." The consultation will last until May 4, 2005.
In November, the First Minister announced a five point plan to tackle knife crime. Today’s publication will see the Executive consult on three elements of this – increasing the penalty for possession of a knife in public, increasing the use of existing stop and search powers by the police and enhancing police powers of arrest to include suspicion of carrying a knife, and increasing the minimum age for buying a knife. The Executive will consult on the two further elements to the plan – introducing a licensing scheme for the sale of non-domestic knives and banning the sale of swords – later in the year.
