Rank and file police body calls for political participation rules to be relaxed

The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), has published a manifesto in which it also calls for the next Parliament to get rid of policing targets and to establish special facilities for drunk people to sober up in.

Presently, Scotland’s 17,263 officers cannot take an “active” part in political debates – they cannot stand as councillors and were unable to participate in the independence referendum.

But the SPF wants rights similar to those enjoyed by American public officials, whose rights in the political sphere are contained in the Hatch Act of 1939.

That legislation allows officers to give opinions about issues and candidates and also participate in campaigns where the candidates do not represent a political party.

They can also sign nominating petitions, donate money to organisations and campaign on referenda. But they cannot be candidates in partisan elections, distribute material in such elections or campaign for or against a candidate in a political poll.

The SPF stated: “Scotland has never been more politically active or engaged than it is now, but a large number of public sector workers are unable to contribute to political decision making and opinion forming.

“Nowhere is that more true than in the case of police officers. We consider it is appropriate to restrict police officers from taking a partisan role in politics. However, we believe there is room to consider their participation in other aspects of political life.”

It added: “The SPF calls on the next Scottish Government to commit to the introduction of a Scottish equivalent of the Hatch Act in the United States. An equivalent Act…would help to address the wholesale restrictions placed on police officers from participating in democratic life.”