LOCAL LABOUR POLITICIANS URGE CAMPAIGNERS TO KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON POLICE SCOTLAND OVER DUMFRIES CONTROL ROOM JOBS Local Labour politicians have called for campaigners to keep up the pressure on Police Scotland to ensure that jobs do come to Dumfries. This comes after an answer given yesterday (13 March) during a question and answer session with Police Scotland Chief Constable Stephen House at an event in Stirling organised by the Trade Union UNISON . When asked about the planned closure of the Dumfries Police Control Room, Chief Constable House responded that there was a strong possibility of bringing new jobs to the area for displaced staff. Dumfriesshire MSP Elaine Murray, the Shadow Legal Affairs and Community Safety Spokesperson in the Scottish Parliament, said, “I give a cautious welcome to this news. However, we must keep up the pressure on Police Scotland and the Scottish Government until we get the full details. It is appalling that Dumfries was going to lose 34 jobs while other areas were actually going to get new jobs. This whole review of control rooms and the impact it had on Dumfries and Galloway had not been properly thought through by Police Scotland”. Dumfries and Galloway Russell Brown MP has now written to Sir Stephen House to urge him to clarify the position to staff. Russell Brown said, “There is no doubt that the backlash against the closure of the control room in Dumfries has rattled Police Scotland into action. However, they need to clarify the position as a matter of urgency and that needs more than throw away comments by the Chief Constable at a Trade Union event. The clock is ticking on the closure of the control room and staff are anxious about their jobs. I have written to the Chief Constable asking him to provide details as a matter of urgency because the ad hoc approach of Police Scotland who in making it up as they go along is just not good enough.” Dumfries and Galloway Council Leader Ronnie Nicholson said, “It appears that the widespread campaign and lobbying against the closure is starting to have an impact. However, until we hear firm details, everyone needs to keep up the campaign and I can give a commitment that this will include the Council. I will be meeting with the Chief Constable and the Chair of the Scottish Police Authority in the coming weeks and I will make it clear that if they are serious about having a Police force for the whole of Scotland that must include locating a fair share of civilian jobs to Dumfries and Galloway not just the central belt and the north of Scotland”
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 11:34:46 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015