Commenting on the news that the Scottish Government will not send a representative to the police summit tomorrow, Scottish Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP said:

“Instead of grabbing control to the centre so that Kenny MacAskill can direct Scottish police operations, the SNP should be listening to the collective experience of local authorities and police boards. Instead we are seeing a blatant example of the SNP bulldozer at work, ploughing down all opposition.

“COSLA is to be commended for hosting the Police summit and I believe they can together prove the worth of the existing truly local forces. They can work together with local police boards to find efficiencies in back room services that don't threaten the independence of local policing.

“In advance of the summit tomorrow, the Scottish Government needs to heed the views of the mass of public opinion on the subject. The SNP must now scrap their dangerous and ill-thought out plans for a single national police force.”