§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends that there should be a statutory basis for local arrangements for consultation between the police and the community in Scotland.
§ Mr. YoungerI have decided, in the light of consultations with a wide range of bodies, including the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, individual police authorities, the police associations and bodies representing community interests, that this would not be appropriate.
There is a long tradition of close integration of the police with local communities and a wide variety of formal and informal arrangements for local consultation already exists at maay different levels. I am today issuing guidance to police authorities and chief constables which stresses the importance, in the interests of efficient and responsive policing, of establishing and maintaining effective arrangements, suited to local circumstances and needs, for consultation between the police, police authorities and local communities. I am placing copies of the guidance issued in the Library.