Eight into one will go!

The Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland) (ACPOS) has confirmed that from 1^st April 2013, the present eight police forces in Scotland will be merged into the new Police Service of Scotland.  Also included in the merger will be the Scottish Police Services Authority and the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency.

This merger will make the Scottish Police Service, the second largest police force in the UK.

The ACPO(S) President, Chief Constable Kevin Smith said that the aim of the merger was to create “a force which delivers high quality, responsive, effective and efficient policing within communities while also increasing capacity across the service at a national level.  All of that needs to be delivered with a much reduced budget across both non-staff and staff costs.”

There is still a great deal of work to be done in the next 13 months to make the change necessary to have the new structure in place but rest assured that the reform will not be fully completed by the start date.  It is anticipated that the force will continue to take shape over the next five years.

CC Smith confirmed that the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland and their immediate command team would be based, in the interim, at the Scottish Police College in Tulliallan, Fife.  The Chief Constable of the new service is yet to be decided.

However, whilst ACPO(S), remains committed to working towards 2013 date while Unison raises staff concerns.

If you anticipate your story greeting the public until after April 2013, but it was to feature one of the current 8 Scottish Forces, you may want to re-consider.

Don’t forget to book your place on the Crime Fiction – Making it Real weekend workshop March 2012

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