There are plans afoot to merge all of Scotlands existing distinct police forces into a single force.

From a fiscal and resource point of view this seems very sensible but some have raised fears that such a force would be a useful and damaging political weapon.

Earlier in October 1998, Ian Oliver, former chief constable of Grampian police (North East Scotland), was attacked by all political parties for even suggesting a centrally controlled police force could be used as a 'repressive force' in the event of violence between unionist and separatist factions. (pro and anti indepedence groups).

This may seem like scare mongering, but look at how the police force in Yorkshire and Notts was used to suppress striking miners enabling the Thacher government to break the Union and put over 100,00 men out of work. There IS as precedent, and that is worrying especially as the Scottish parliament will STILL answer to the Scottish office and therefore London and Blairs lackies.

Even Sir William Sutherland, the leading police chief in Scotland has said there would be issues with a single force that would warrant close examination because of its political ramifications.