This is our very first post on the Scottish Police Authority but, we suspect, it won't be our last. This organisation, just like its prodigy Police Scotland, is as dysfunctional as dysfunctional can be.
The reasons for that dysfunctionality are entirely political. All appointments to the Board of the Authority are made by the Scottish Ministers and we know from experience that the nationalist government appoints only placemen and fellow travellers. It's all about control.
The problem, however, with such a strategy, is that inept Ministers will always appoint an inept Board and an inept Board will, in turn, almost always appoint inept senior officials. That is as inevitable as night follows day. And Scotland has rarely had a more inept Minister than Kenny MacAskill, long-time Justice Secretary.
The first Chairman (chairing member, in nationalist-speak) of the Board was someone called Vic Emery who was rarely out of the news along with the first Chief Constable, Stephen House. The second Chairman, one Andrew Flanagan - who nearly brought STV to its knees - has now been given the push and the second, and current, Chief Constable, Mr Gormley, is, rightly or wrongly, under investigation for misconduct. Add to that the embarrassing retirement of the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Foley, and you have an organisation truly in chaos.
Whither now, Kenny MacAskill? No wonder you ran away.
No comments:
Post a Comment