A BORDERS councillor has backed calls for a wide-ranging independent inquiry into Police Scotland in the wake of the M9 tragedy.

Sandy Aitchison admitted this week he had “never been comfortable” with the single, centralised force which replaced the six former constabularies – including Lothian & Borders – in April, 2013.

And he claimed there was a perception that rural areas like the Borders were “losing out to the Central Belt”.

Mr Aitchison, a member of Scottish Borders Council’s Police, Fire and Rescue and Safer Communities Board, was commenting after Scottish justice minister Michael Matheson MSP directed Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) to carry out an urgent review into all police call-handling in Scotland.

It follows the death of Lamara Bell, 25, who was discovered critically ill in a crashed car on the M9 near Stirling, next to her dead partner John Yuill, 28.

Although they were not found until last Wednesday, Police Scotland admitted the crash had been reported to them on Sunday, June 5.

An inquiry by the Police, Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) into that specific incident is already under way.

Mr Aitchison said he agreed with Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie MSP that the call-handling review, while welcome, should go further.

“I don’t want to use this horrific incident as a political tool to back up my views, but I share Mr Rennie’s view that a much more far-reaching inquiry is required because I am very conscious of criticisms of the single force which may or may not be correct,” said Mr Aitchison.

“It would ask that this inquiry be carried out by a body which is apolitical and not influenced by government or politicians, either local or national, so steps can be identified for the benefit of all in Scotland and especially rural areas like the Borders where there is a perception we are losing out to the Central Belt.” Also welcoming the HMICS review is Councillor Watson McAteer, a former divisional police commander in the Borders who was elected as an Independent in Hawick and Denholm last year.

“I have serious concerns, evidenced by the large number of complaints received locally, that the police 101 non-emergency number is not fit for purpose,” said Mr McAteer.

“When calls are eventually answered at the control room in Bilston, Midlothian, they are apparently subject to a response grading procedure that has the potential to create real risks with serious incidents not being given the urgent attention they deserve.

“It is not good enough to task the public with differentiating the seriousness of an incident with most being reluctant to call 999 unless the circumstances are obvious.

“Efficient call-handling and effective officer deployment is clearly an optimum objective but the current call centre approach is alienating the public and clearly not working.

“While I appreciate that there are calls for a review of all aspects of Scotland’s single police force, I would prefer at this stage for attention to be focused on re-engaging with local communities like the Borders.

“There is no doubt that policing must win back the confidence of those members of the public who feel disengaged and let down by a service that appears to be abandoning a tried and tested community-based model, simply to meet budgetary challenges.” In a presentation to last month’s full council meeting, Assistant Chief Constable Kate Thomson said she was aware that members of the public in the Borders faced problems in accessing the 101 service at Bilston especially, since the closure of control rooms in Glenrothes and Stirling, it was now also dealing with calls from Fife and the Forth Valley.

“The 101 service has been below the standard we would expect, but I am assured the technology and staffing issues will be resolved within the next six weeks and we are already seeing a difference,” she told the meeting.

Meanwhile, South of Scotland Lib Dem MSP Jim Hume has this week called for Police Scotland to suspend its programme of control room closures until the call-handling review is completed.

“Reports of people facing extended waits to have their call answered and staff shortages are a real concern,” he said. “We know that people in the Borders are worried over what the closures mean for 999 and 101 calls in our area.

“It is right we examine the way calls from the Borders and other parts of Scotland are handled in light of the tragic events on the M9.

“Until we have the answers we need, there is no question that the ongoing closure programme should be suspended.”