Justice Secretary visits national resource to highlight benefit of single service Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill will visit Police Scotland’s Marine and Underwater Unit in Greenock this morning (Tuesday July 9, 2013). Mr MacAskill will take part in a briefing and then watch a dive demonstration at Greenock Harbour. The Diving and Marine Unit is a national resource with two teams covering all Scottish communities. Available 24 hours a day, its functions include missing persons searches, marine patrol and flood assistance. The unit also operates the only HSE approved police diving school in the UK. The visit takes place on the 100th day since the formal establishment of Scotland’s single police service, Police Scotland. Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “A key benefit of a Scotland-wide police service is that all communities have access to specialist equipment and expertise whenever it is needed. The Marine and Underwater Unit is an important national asset and an excellent example of the scope and scale of the work police do every day. “It is now exactly 100 days since new policing arrangements were put in place and Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority are making good progress. Crime is now at a 39 year low, backed by record numbers of police in our communities. Confidence in police is high and increasing. “Local policing shaped and delivered in communities remains the bedrock of the new service, with a designated Local Commander for each area and a dedicated policing plan for every single council ward in Scotland. This is supported by national and specialist resources like the Marine and Underwater Unit.” Chief Superintendent Derek Robertson said: “The Police Scotland National Marine Unit is a valuable specialist resource which has suitably skilled officers who cover all of Scotland. The unit, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, uses a wide variety of vessels and equipment which allows specially trained officers to patrol and undertake specialist functions whether it is on inland waterways or throughout our coastline. They are a valuable asset and are focused on keeping people safe.”
Posted on: Tue, 03 Sep 2013 15:20:06 +0000
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