Police watchdog tells Holyrood committee single force on course to make savings

Scotland’s police watchdog has told MSPs the single force is on course to save £1.1 billion despite a critical report from auditors.

In December Audit Scotland published a report predicting an £85 million black hole in the policing budget in the coming three years, with auditor general Caroline Gardner saying they were handed accounts that were “incomplete, of poor quality and were subject to substantial changes”.

She added: “By the end of the audit, the majority of numbers in the primary financial statements had changed. This is exceptional in our wider experience of auditing public sector accounts.”

Ms Gardner also said progress towards a comprehensive financial strategy was “slow” and that £21m was unaccounted for in the reform budget.

However, officials from the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) told MSPs on the Public Audit Committee yesterday the concerns were being addressed.

Previously, the auditor general recommended that Police Scotland develop a long-term economic strategy by March 2014.

However, it has yet to do so.

Andrew Flanagan, chairman of the SPA and a chartered accountant, who took up the role last September said: “I have never before received such a serious audit report.

“It is important for me to say that I fully accept the recommendations of the auditor and these will be implemented.

“I do not expect such a report to be repeated and I will do everything necessary to ensure that it is not.”

He added a long-term strategy would be produced before March and that the suggested savings were not “unattainable”.

SPA chief executive John Foley said he was “absolutely confident” this would be the case and that 85 per cent of savings were already “in the bag”.

Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Philip Gormley, said he would work with the watchdog.

“My approach will be to work collaboratively and in a complementary manner to the police authority,” he said.

“In my experience, that is the only way we are going to generate light rather than heat, and I have no view about the past. My approach will be to work in a entirely collaborative manner with the authority, recognising that we have different responsibilities.”