Ministers keep up pressure on vehicle checks
31 Dec 07
Call for timetable on measure to permit inspectors to act without police presence
The Scottish Government has called on UK ministers to set a timescale for giving vehicle inspectors in Scotland powers to stop vehicles that will free up police time - or consider devolving responsibility for the powers.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill wrote to Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly in October, urging her to change laws that currently require police officers to accompany Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) inspectors for each roadside vehicle check in Scotland.
Ms Kelly has now indicated that the powers, in operation in England & Wales since 2002, could be extended to Scotland by affirmative resolution statutory instrument, but said she could not "make any definite promise as to when this will be".
In response, Mr MacAskill has written suggesting agreement on a specific timetable early in the new year to develop the measure in the UK Parliament, failing which, giving consideration to devolving the requisite power.
He said: "I appreciate the legislative pressures at Westminster, but the Scottish Government is keen to give this issue a higher priority.
"Changing the law would enable the police to commit time and resource to concentrate on other core policing activities, while providing VOSA with new opportunities to become more effective, efficient and flexible in their roadside enforcement."