This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7961951.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Police 'should heed public views' Police 'should heed public views'
(about 5 hours later)
Scottish police forces need to make more use of public opinion when setting priorities, inspectors have said.Scottish police forces need to make more use of public opinion when setting priorities, inspectors have said.
Chief inspector of constabulary, Paddy Tomkins, said face-to-face meetings should replace postal surveys, which have response rates as low as 30%.Chief inspector of constabulary, Paddy Tomkins, said face-to-face meetings should replace postal surveys, which have response rates as low as 30%.
Postal surveys in some police regions reach between 1,000 and 6,000 people, which can "jeopardise" the sample, a report on the issue warned.Postal surveys in some police regions reach between 1,000 and 6,000 people, which can "jeopardise" the sample, a report on the issue warned.
The Tories said police board conveners should be elected.The Tories said police board conveners should be elected.
Mr Tomkins said: "At a time when community policing is at the forefront of the agenda, it is important that forces build on the existing process for addressing the needs of local communities in setting their strategic priorities.Mr Tomkins said: "At a time when community policing is at the forefront of the agenda, it is important that forces build on the existing process for addressing the needs of local communities in setting their strategic priorities.
"To do this effectively they need to have, and take account of, proper consultation with the public.""To do this effectively they need to have, and take account of, proper consultation with the public."
Mr Tomkins said some forces already did this well, but called for more consistency across Scotland.Mr Tomkins said some forces already did this well, but called for more consistency across Scotland.
Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken said the real key to local policing was local accountability.Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken said the real key to local policing was local accountability.
"That is why we want to see conveners of each police board standing for election," he said, adding: "If the convener is not doing his or her job well enough, he or she will lose it.""That is why we want to see conveners of each police board standing for election," he said, adding: "If the convener is not doing his or her job well enough, he or she will lose it."
Labour's Richard Baker said the public was the best weapon for fighting crime.
"The SNP should follow Westminster and introduce up-to-date, interactive crime maps so the public are better informed about crime problems in their area and enable them to have much more of a say in what their local police focus on," he said.