Brown: Red dot pointing at Justice Secretary
June 3, 2010 5:28 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats
Commenting after challenging the Justice Secretary on his responsibility to determine policy over the use of tasers in Scottish Police forces, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Robert Brown MSP said:
"The red dot is now pointing directly at the Justice Secretary on where the responsibility lies for the strategic framework surrounding the use of tasers in Scottish police forces.
"Surely he must be aware that Scottish Ministers have responsibility for police equipment and the deployment of tasers to police officers corresponds to this.
"Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland has clearly said in evidence to the Justice Committee that 'Contrary to popular belief, the operational autonomy of chief constables extends only to control of operational policing as it occurs, not to operational priorities, strategies and policies.' The Justice Secretary has repeatedly dodged responsibility on this issue.
"While there might rightly be scope for the use of tasers where the safety of a police officer is put at risk, the Justice Secretary must set the conditions.
"I want the Justice Secretary to come clean to Parliament and take the long overdue responsibility for the issue."
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