07 October 2005
Scottish local authorities have called on the Executive to provide additional funding to cope with the 'massive' financial implications of its flagship law and order Bill.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities this week gave its approval to the new Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, which aims to increase police powers and improve community safety.
Cosla environment and community safety spokeswoman Councillor Alison Hay backed proposals in the Bill to improve security around marches and parades. But she emphasised that the resource and legal implications for local government needed to be addressed.
Hay said. 'This is not councils simply moaning about resource implications for the sake of it. The financial implications are massive because of the amount of work that will be generated. We are talking about a really wide spectrum of activity – anything from community and children's parades to sectarian and political marches.'
The Bill will double the maximum penalty for carrying a knife in public from two to four years; provide police with an unconditional power to arrest individuals suspected of carrying a knife, and increase the minimum age for buying a non-domestic knife from 16 to 18.
The planned legislation also provides for banning orders to tackle football-related violence or sectarianism, racism or hatred; introduces mandatory drug testing for anyone aged 16 or over suspected of a drugs or drugs-related offence, and makes police complaints more transparent and accountable.
The Bill also establishes a new Scottish Police Services Authority and an independent Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland.
Hay called on ministers to rule out any suggestion that the proposals might lead to the creation of a national police service.
She added: 'There is a real chance that ministers see this as the start of a greater opportunity for them to exert direct decision-making control not only over current police services utilised by all forces but other services which might be added to the remit of the new services authority board in the future.'
PFoct2005
