WE'RE LOSING FAITH IN OUR LOCAL POLICE

Confidence plummets in last 10 years and modernisation 'too slow' for today's crimes

- BY RACHEL KEENAN

CONFIDENCE in local policing has plunged and the force has been too slow to adapt to modern criminal threats, a watchdog warns.

The Auditor General for Scotland and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) will today publish a joint best value report on policing in Scotland.

It says senior police leaders work well together and there is strong financial management.

But the service has been slow to put in place effective changes to modernise how it operates.

Craig Naylor of HMICS said much had been achieved since the reform of policing in 2013 but added: “Policing must constantly adapt to new forms of crime, evolving societal demands and expectations.