I like the cut of his gib - this new Strathclyde Police Chief Constable, Stephen House. As reported by Michael Howie in his Scotsman exclusive, Mr House has given Scotland's largest police force a right shake up since he took over the top post, booting out highly paid senior officers back on to the beat and axing dozens of superintendents posts to free up £2 million in salaries.
Lothian and Borders Police also got a new Chief Constable recently. Not that you would know. But to be fair to David Strang his force have been busy too - celebrating Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender History Month by flying a rainbow flag outside their Edinburgh HQ. Sadly, I'm not making this up - full story here in the Edinburgh Evening News.
Chief Constable House is also raking in extra cash courtesy of Lothian and Borders Police press office. Apparently the Edinburgh press office are so busy that boss Elayne Grimes is sending PR work through to Strathclyde, which their press office carry out, and of course, invoices back to the Edinburgh force.
Ms Grimes, on about £50k a year, has no problems spending tax payers cash. Recently she had a team of three or four cops beavering away on a review - to find out how good her department is. (did they canvas the views of the Scottish media who would, I'm sure, have a few pointed answers?)
She's also got a full time police constable assisting with a lengthy review of the force's corporate identity which could lead to a very expensive replacement of all Lothian and Borders branding, force crest, livery, stationery ect.
And I hear Ms Grimes, who seems to spend a good deal of time "out of force" has also called in a Glasgow communications agency who are placing a member of staff on a 10 week secondment to Fettes to help with the corporate identity review.
So while Strathclyde's Chief is determined to drive down costs, root out wasters and put cops back on the beat, his counterpart in Edinburgh seems happy to throw money at a media office which fails to perform even the most basic of duties.(see previous post)
I know Elayne Grimes is a fervent reader of my blog. Maybe she can come on and explain how she can justify splashing the cash and tying up experienced police officers when Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill has made it clear the Scottish Government's priority is to have fewer pen pushers and more thief catchers?
Thursday, 14 February 2008
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2 comments:
Great post Raff (and the previous one on L&B press office). I think the phrase is "both barrells".
Not that I have many dealings with them these days but I remember when phoning L&B's press office wasn't a 'pull your hair out and set your genitals on fire experience'.
However, despite it going against every journalistic fibre in my body, I do have some sympathy with the authorities for the amount of leaked information in some cases. Trial by media - in the case of Luke Mitchell for one - is a worrying trend. These people may be guilty but it may only be a matter of time before someone gets off on a techicality because of "unfair" media coverage.
Dave, I don't swallow this trial by media crap being spouted by Donald Findlay in the Court of Appeal as they try to get Scotland's most dangerous deviant killer off the hook. The Crown Office are pretty restrictive and come down on the Scottish media at the slighest sign that they are overstepping the mark. Yes, Lothian and Borders Police made a complete arse of the Jodi Jones investigation as they pussy footed about because Mitchell was deemed a "child" and they missed vital clues and evidence that would have avoided any need for an appeal. But they've got the right guy and I hope Mitchell enjoys playing "mummies and daddies" with various cellmates as he progresses through the Scottish penal establishment for at least the next 20 years.
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