Senior Cops Slate Bid For Public To Be Detectives

Mar 23 2008 Exclusive by Norman Silvester

TWO of Scotland's top cops have slammed plans to use the public to investigate serious crimes.

The "civilian assistant investigators" will be paid £22,000 a year to take statements and file reports to the procurator fiscal with just three weeks' training.

The scheme, which begins on April 1, is part of a yearlong £250,000 pilot project in Falkirk funded by the Scottish government.

If successful, it could be rolled out across Scotland by the end of next year.

Les Gray, general secretary of the Strathclyde Police Federation, said: "We have serious concerns about this plan and will be monitoring it very closely."

Former chief superintendent Tom Buchan, a past president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, said: "A three-week course is just pathetic.

"It is just another costcutting exercise. It is very sad."

Central Scotland Police say the recruits will work on every level of an investigation.

Chief Constable Andrew Cameron said: "We believe this will lead to more community officers and a better quality of service to victims."