Speaking after the COSLA Police Summit, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP said:

"The Government is rushing towards a simplistic reform of our police despite the overwhelming opposition.

"Today's summit revealed that there is little evidence to suggest that a single national police force will save money but it will pose a threat to local accountability.

"In a year when people in many parts of the world are struggling to secure basic democratic rights, it is disappointing that the SNP Government has relegated local democratic control to a second class consideration.

"The SNP should abandon its ill-thought out plans and focus instead on local reform in collaboration with local councils. It's the nuts and bolts reform at a local level, removing barriers to an efficient service, that will keep unnecessary costs to a minimum."