New fire and police chairs unveiled

Aug 31 2012

Two key appointments who will help shape Scotland's new national police and fire services are set to be announced.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill is to reveal who will be the first chairs of the new Scottish Police Authority (SPA) and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The appointments come in the wake of a major shake-up of Scotland's police and fire services which will see the existing regional services merged into new nationwide organisations.

As part of that process, the SPA is being set up to hold the new Police Service of Scotland and its chief constable to account.

The chair of the SPA will also be involved in selecting the new chief constable - whose appointment is expected to be announced this autumn.

Meanwhile, the chair of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will work closely with chief officer Alasdair Hay to help lead and shape the new organisation.

Both chairs will work in partnership with the new services, the Scottish Government and others to help ensure a smooth transition to the new nationwide police and fire services, which are expected to come into being at the start of April next year.

The Scottish Government has already said that creating the two new national forces will reduce duplication and could save £1.7 billion over 15 years.