Have your say today on future of Police & Fire Services

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Scottish Government launches consultations

Today (10th Feb) the Scottish Government has launched two important consultations.  Both of which impact on the lives of everyone in Scotland regardless of age, sex, wealth, location, colour or creed! 

The consultations (with links are); 

I’m not going to go too in depth at the moment; I will make more blog postings once I’ve had time to fully consider the consultation documents.  They were only released a few hours ago and both are lengthy documents.  A quick overview is should the Police reform into a single national service, reorganise into few forces or retain the current eight with increased co-operation, its the same options with the Fire & Rescue consultation.

All I really want to say today is that these consultations really are worth looking at whether you are a local resident, business owner, politician or even employee of the services.  The nature of the work of the services is that at some point, and probably on more than one occasion we will need their assistance and if not you personally then your family or friends I’m sure.

For each consultation there is a document which sets out the position now, refers to some of the background issues and then moves onto things to consider.  The documents are big, there is no getting away from it but there is no rush, take your time to read it, any responses don’t have to be in until May.

There is a ‘respondent information form’ for each consultation which asks for some details on the front page.  What follows is a series of questions with space for comments.  It is enough to tick yes or no and offer no comment at all if you don’t want to.  You don’t even have to answer every question if you don’t want.

I really would urge you to have a look at the consultation and if you do please have your say.

If the consultation isn’t your cup of tea it doesn’t mean you cant take part.   Keep your eyes on what is said about it in the media and if you wish write a letter to your MSP saying what you think on the matter and ask them to feed that into the consultation process.

I’m of the opinion that every single Community Council in Scotland should have these two consultations on their agendas, and the same goes for other community groups such as resident associations or youth forums.  Anybody can take part, you don’t have to be a Councillor of Chairman of the local Residents Association.

In an ideal world I would have liked for a couple of discussion events to have taken place where members of the public could have been talked through the consultation, it might have made it easier for people but the reality is this would have been a big undertaking and who in the City would have taken the lead on it?

Its worth just noting that if you decide not to take part, which you have the right to do, the future of the services might go in a direction which you disagree with and you don’t want to regret not taking part in shaping the services for years to come.

Note:  Both consultations run until 5th May 2010.  If you require assistance you can call the Scottish Government on 08457 741 741 or email ceu@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.