At the party’s conference in Perth, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have confirmed they are the only party campaigning against plans to create a single, centralised police force for Scotland.

Commenting after a policy debate, Liberal Democrat candidate for Inverness and Nairn, Christine Jardine said:

“We are the only party campaigning against SNP plans to create a single, centralized police force in Scotland.

“A single force would take decisions away from local communities.

“A Scottish police chief would owe his job completely to the Justice Secretary, and the position would be vulnerable to political interference.”

Liberal Democrat candidate for Aberdeen South, John Sleigh added:

“The Chief Constable of Grampian police is firmly against these proposals.

“He knows that forces like Grampian and Northern Constabulary have great policing records precisely because they are free from central control.

“Kenny Macaskill says he will make huge savings from a single police force. The Chief Constables say the savings aren’t there.

“The North East has a fantastic record for community policing. If we were to go to a central force, this would be a huge step backwards and pull bobbies off their beat.

“We will resist the SNP’s drive for centralization. It is dangerous, and especially in the case of Scotland’s police.”