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Scottish Labour calls for police chief's resignation | Scottish Labour calls for police chief's resignation |
(35 minutes later) | |
Scottish Labour have tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling for the resignation of Police Scotland's chief constable Sir Stephen House. | Scottish Labour have tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling for the resignation of Police Scotland's chief constable Sir Stephen House. |
The call follows the deaths of John Yuill, 28, and Lamara Bell, 25, in a crash on the M9. | The call follows the deaths of John Yuill, 28, and Lamara Bell, 25, in a crash on the M9. |
Although the crash was reported on Sunday 5 July, it was not until a second call was made three days later that police investigated. | Although the crash was reported on Sunday 5 July, it was not until a second call was made three days later that police investigated. |
Sir Stephen has said he will not resign over the force's handling of the case. | Sir Stephen has said he will not resign over the force's handling of the case. |
He has the backing of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. | He has the backing of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. |
The chairman of the Scottish Police Authority, which oversees the work of the police, has also said he has "confidence" in the chief constable. | |
Mr Yuill and Mr Bell were found inside the crashed car on 8 July. | Mr Yuill and Mr Bell were found inside the crashed car on 8 July. |
Mr Yuill is thought to have died on impact after the Renault Clio left the M9 and went down an embankment on the outskirts of Stirling. | Mr Yuill is thought to have died on impact after the Renault Clio left the M9 and went down an embankment on the outskirts of Stirling. |
Ms Bell was critically injured and died in hospital on Sunday 12 July after suffering broken bones and kidney damage which was caused by dehydration. | Ms Bell was critically injured and died in hospital on Sunday 12 July after suffering broken bones and kidney damage which was caused by dehydration. |
Sir Stephen has admitted that the initial information received about the crash was not entered into police systems. | Sir Stephen has admitted that the initial information received about the crash was not entered into police systems. |
A review of police call handling in Scotland has been announced by the Scottish government and will be carried out by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS). | A review of police call handling in Scotland has been announced by the Scottish government and will be carried out by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS). |
It will be in addition to an ongoing independent inquiry specifically into the M9 incident by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc). | It will be in addition to an ongoing independent inquiry specifically into the M9 incident by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc). |
Scottish Labour's motion calls for Sir Stephen to resign with immediate effect. | Scottish Labour's motion calls for Sir Stephen to resign with immediate effect. |
The party's justice spokesman Hugh Henry said there had been a number of failures since the creation of Police Scotland. | The party's justice spokesman Hugh Henry said there had been a number of failures since the creation of Police Scotland. |
On Sunday the party released figures which showed that more than 53,000 working days at Police Scotland had been lost to stress in the past two years. | On Sunday the party released figures which showed that more than 53,000 working days at Police Scotland had been lost to stress in the past two years. |
Between January and March this year, more than 10,000 absences were recorded due to anxiety and depression. | Between January and March this year, more than 10,000 absences were recorded due to anxiety and depression. |
However, Police Scotland said the numbers were falling and services had not been adversely affected by absences. | However, Police Scotland said the numbers were falling and services had not been adversely affected by absences. |
'Losing confidence' | 'Losing confidence' |
Mr Henry said: "The public are rapidly losing confidence in Police Scotland after a series of major mistakes. | Mr Henry said: "The public are rapidly losing confidence in Police Scotland after a series of major mistakes. |
"Revelations of recent days appear to confirm that the tragedy on the M9 wasn't an isolated incident and was the result of a number of failures since the creation of Police Scotland. | "Revelations of recent days appear to confirm that the tragedy on the M9 wasn't an isolated incident and was the result of a number of failures since the creation of Police Scotland. |
"Sir Stephen House should resign with immediate effect. | "Sir Stephen House should resign with immediate effect. |
"Only when the chief constable moves on can the Scottish government fully investigate the failings in Police Scotland and get a grip on policing across our country." | "Only when the chief constable moves on can the Scottish government fully investigate the failings in Police Scotland and get a grip on policing across our country." |
He added: "There are also serious concerns about accountability. The Scottish Police Authority has utterly failed to hold Police Scotland to account in any way. | He added: "There are also serious concerns about accountability. The Scottish Police Authority has utterly failed to hold Police Scotland to account in any way. |
"This isn't an issue of party politics - it's about the policing of our country. I hope members from all the different political parties can support this motion." | "This isn't an issue of party politics - it's about the policing of our country. I hope members from all the different political parties can support this motion." |
Vic Emery, chairman of the SPA, has defended the chief constable and policing in Scotland. | |
He said: "Everyone in policing regrets the recent tragic M9 incident. | |
"The Chief Constable has led Scottish policing's acknowledgement of that failing, and has been clear in showing his personal commitment and duty to lead the service through this. | |
"The SPA continues to have confidence in him doing that, and will continue to provide both the support and necessary oversight required." | |
He added: "Many key areas of policing in Scotland are stronger today than they were under the previous multi-force system, and that has been done alongside successful efforts to reduce the costs of policing." | |
Responding to Labour's parliamentary motion, Chief Constable Brian Docherty, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, said: "There is no surprise in the news that police services have been cut; that is the reality created by shrinking budgets. | |
"If politicians really cared about policing in Scotland, we would be seeing motions calling for increases in funding and not the gesture politics of calling for resignations." | |
Sir Stephen has previously said the "massive changes" brought by the creation of the single Police Scotland force were not to blame for the delay in responding to the crash. | Sir Stephen has previously said the "massive changes" brought by the creation of the single Police Scotland force were not to blame for the delay in responding to the crash. |
But in an interview with BBC Scotland, he acknowledged that the deaths of Mr Yuill and Ms Bell were "a tragic situation" where "we've got things badly wrong". | But in an interview with BBC Scotland, he acknowledged that the deaths of Mr Yuill and Ms Bell were "a tragic situation" where "we've got things badly wrong". |
The amalgamation of Scotland's eight regional police forces into a single national force has led to the centralisation of some local control rooms and contact centres, with Glenrothes, Dumfries, Stirling and Pitt Street in Glasgow having already closed. | The amalgamation of Scotland's eight regional police forces into a single national force has led to the centralisation of some local control rooms and contact centres, with Glenrothes, Dumfries, Stirling and Pitt Street in Glasgow having already closed. |
Sir Stephen confirmed earlier this year that he is likely to leave his post when his contract ends in September 2016. | Sir Stephen confirmed earlier this year that he is likely to leave his post when his contract ends in September 2016. |
He admitted that he had considered his position in the wake of recent events, but had decided that the "right thing to do" was to stay in his post. | He admitted that he had considered his position in the wake of recent events, but had decided that the "right thing to do" was to stay in his post. |