In Scotland, the Liberal Democrats have become the go-to party on Police issues because of our long record of opposing the disastrous merger of Scotland’s Police Force.
Willie Rennie, Justice Spokesperson Liam McArthur and his predecessor Alison McInnes have criticised the Police over things like inappropriate use of stop and search or routine patrolling with firearms but they have also highlighted the stress that frontline officers are facing and raised the flaws in the new management.
He will say:
Effective, well-resourced policing is fundamental to protecting our freedoms and helping the most vulnerable in society.
Liberal Democrats’ commitment to civil liberties and social justice means we are natural champions for Britain’s police.
With the Conservatives and Theresa May in particular leading an anti-police charge of cuts in officer numbers, reductions in conditions and unacceptable police bashing, Liberal Democrats must show how we are the true champions of Britain’s blue front-line – with our values and our spending priorities.
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
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One Comment
We need to recognise the importance of one role that people working in our communities have. That is making people feel safe. This applies to the bobby on the beat, but also the lollipop person, the person cleaning the street to cutting the grass, the postman, the milkman. Or women of course. Lollipop people for example are held in very high regard by their communities. When I was a councillor a frequent complaint was that the street cleaner had missed the pavement outside their house. When I looked it was clean. Yes, they said I do it myself, but the cleaner should be there. We must recognise the importance all of these people in building healthy communities. They need training, recognition and a proper income. It should be the context in which we discuss our police officers – experts in building safe and healthy communities.