At First Minister’s Questions today, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson raised a number of concerns about the SNP’s drive to abolish the BTP north of the border.
She highlighted a series of emails received from concerned staff members, which described the proposal as “horrific” and that “cross-border crimes would potentially become unmanageable”.
The BTP itself has also put forward alternative plans, while the Scottish Conservatives back a move which would see the organisation continue, but remain in accordance with the Smith Commission which recommended its devolution to Holyrood.
However, Ms Sturgeon failed to provide any proof that handing Police Scotland control of railway security would improve safety on trains, and couldn’t answer the criticism by police officers.
Satisfaction levels with the BTP in Scotland are at 83 per cent, considerably higher than Police Scotland, and crime on trains has halved over the last decade.
Despite that, the SNP now wants to abolish one of the UK’s most successful arms of the police and bring it under the control of Police Scotland, which has suffered a number of set-backs since its creation in 2013.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:
“The Scottish Government is imposing a reform that the police don’t want, on a system that doesn’t need tampered with.
“This is yet another case of the SNP wanting to grab more centralised control.
“The Scottish Conservatives will stand with BTP officers against these plans and fight the SNP every step of the way in parliament.
“Last week the First Minister unveiled a massive listening exercise – but now she’s turning a deaf ear to police.
“The Scottish Government has made enough mistakes with police reform .
“Now she has to listen to the BTP and others who want to try and stop the SNP making another.”