OPINION
StrathclydePoliceChiefsMayYet
SeeSenseOverFutureofBand
DUNCANWATSON,FORMER SERVING POLICE OFFICER
T
HE intimation that the is now cast. It is well known within
continuing existence of the the policeservice that high rank does
Strathclyde Police Pipe Band notnecessarilyinferhighintelligence,
was in jeopardy has sparked great and where there are intelligent senior
interest and I’d like to add a few officersthereisoftenlackofinsightin
points.Policepersonnelwhoarefrom relation to mundane police functions
the lower ranks within the police –unlesssomethinggoeswrongwhich
service have, for very good reason, brings the police into disrepute.
remained anonymous. Policepersonnelwithinthepipeband
Messrs House and McGuire will be subject to the same style of
[Strathclyde Chief Constable and‘A’ staff appraisal as all other police
Division Commander respectively] officers.Buttherewillbethosesenior
have the power to influence how and officers who might even suggest that
ifthepipebandwillcontinue.Clearly personnel within the band are
theydonothaveknowledgeofhowa hampering their personal careers by
successfulunitsuchastheStrathclyde remaining in the band unit.
Police Pipe Band operates and is The Scottish Government has
managed in order to achieve the very included in its manifesto that they
high standards that they have had for will have an extra 1,000 officers on
decades. Glasgow Police/Strathclyde the street in Scotland over a given
Police Pipe Band has enhanced the period and the senior officers within
reputationofthe‘polis’.Ingeneralthe Strathclyde Police will be trying to
policeserviceshouldcapitaliseonany satisfy their political masters. Rest
activitywhichpresentsthepoliceina assured, to dumb down the standard
positive light. There are those who of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band
perhaps do not generally hold the or even disband it is not going to
police in high regard but makeanydifferencetothenumberof
enthusiastically speak of the operational officers available for
Strathclyde Police Pipe Band,thus it police duties.I understand that there
does cut across boundaries and foster are only about 12 police officers in
good relations. In his letter to the thepipebandandonewayoranother
PipingTimes David Murray gives an they are already operational officers.
insight of how ranked structured Returning to David Murray’s
organisations work and has seen this insight that decisions may have
sort of thing in his professional life. already been made.If that is the case,
He is correct in his suggested to get those senior officers to do an
approach indicating that the response about face will be about as difficult
has been rather trenchant,but the die
(continued on page 33)
29
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64