Scottish Police Services Authority face IT and a forensic stalemate
Strathclyde Police still fear that its operational ability could be damaged by handing over vital computer systems to the new Scottish Police Services Authority. So despite the changeover looming ever closer, and due to take place on April 1, a Strathclyde spokesman yet again confirms the handover remain on the Force Risk Register, which lists risks to operational effectiveness.
While some are urging Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill to "knock heads together" and get the problem solved, others feel that more sensitive enquiry and negotiations may be needed to resolve the situation. While the SPSA was set up almost a year ago purely to make back-office savings in forensics, IT and procurement by co-ordinating the needs of all the eight Scottish police forces, no force has yet signed the agreement on IT and procurement, while Strathclyde Police is still holding back from signing the forensic science agreement.
A quick glimpse at their service shows that Strathclyde Police Forensic Support Department (SPFSD) is the principal police forensic science department in Scotland, in terms of the number of staff, range of services and workload. The department provides full forensic services to Strathclyde Police and to Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, as well as specialised services to other forces in Scotland, such as tachograph and firearms discharge residue analysis.
Forensic services are also provided to Her Majesty’s Custom and Excise, the Post Office and other organisations. The department is also heavily involved with training other Scottish police forces, the regional procurators fiscal (the prosecuting authority in Scotland), and universities.
In a statement, Strathclyde said the SPSA was responsible "to deliver the service in line with Service Level Agreements currently being developed, and the force expects there should be no diminution of the service."
It appears that the SPSA has failed to build a constructive relationship with the police authorities. And there is mistrust between the SPSA and Strathclyde Police on forensics, and between all the forces and SPSA on the issue of IT services.
Some senior police officers have been critical of the SPSA, warning it could become a super police force in charge of policing matters such as counter-terrorism, firearms and serious fraud, while Chief Constable Steve House is quoted as saying that the SPSA is "not a solution for Strathclyde Police."
Source: http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/
Web: http://www.strathclyde.police.uk/index.asp?locID=148&docID=-1