The SNP has always prided itself on its policing record. The party’s Justice and Home Affairs spokesperson at Westminster, Joanna Cherry, claimed that the Scottish Government has left Boris Johnson ‘playing catch up’ when it comes to policing. However, a recent report by former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini revealed systemic issues within the force, including shocking levels of discrimination.
The report highlighted concerns about the treatment of ethnic minority recruits as well as women and members of the LGBT community. Some recruits from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds left within three to five years of joining the force due to their negative experiences. Apparently, a ‘canteen culture’ among officers protected those who displayed unacceptable or discriminatory behaviour. Opposition MSP Rhoda Grant said the review made for ‘sad reading’ and was reminiscent of the Macpherson report that followed the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry in 1999.
The Scottish Government was given ample opportunity to identify these problems. Former police constable Karen Harper claims Nicola Sturgeon ignored her earlier warnings about discrimination within the force. She wrote to the First Minister in 2015 claiming she was ‘bullied, ridiculed and discriminated against’ while serving with police Scotland, and yet no action was taken.
This latest investigation includes 81 recommendations that will hopefully make police officers more accountable to each other and the public whom they serve. These recommendations include expanding the use of body cams, treating all deaths in police custody with the severity of homicides and developing a code of ethics that all officers must adopt.
Conservative MSPs have been quick to condemn the Scottish Government over its inability to deal with the issue. Justice spokesman Liam Kerr called on the Government to implement a progress tracker on its website, to monitor the implementation of the 81 recommendations. Justice Sectary Humza Yousaf described the suggestion as ‘not a bad idea at all’.
The overall performance of the SNP, when it comes to policing, is lacking in this critical area. Once again, it highlights the apathy they have towards issues of systemic discrimination within the bureaucracy. And once again the Scottish Conservatives demonstrate that they are willing and able to step up and hold the Government to account on behalf of all those who continue to suffer as a result of the SNPs single-minded obsession with independence. As we move towards the 2021 Holyrood elections, one can only hope that these stark contrasts are made more explicit.