Councillor rejects 'galling' criticism of 101 number motion
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A VETERAN Moray councillor has rejected criticism of his call to protect Police Scotland's 101 number.
Councillor John Divers (Labour, Elgin South) said a fellow councillor's Facebook post about a motion he proposed was "galling".
His motion called for a letter to be written to Police Scotland and the Scottish Government for reassurance over the 101 number's future, although councillors unanimously agreed that including the Scottish Government in the letter was unnecessary.
Agreed unanimously at full Council on Thursday, February 2, the motion came in the wake of a statement by Police Scotland's deputy chief officer David Page.
Councillor Jérémie Fernandes (SNP, Elgin North) criticised the motion in a Facebook post.
He said the call, which he attributed to the Moray's Labour and Conservative groups, was "making a meal" of the "misguided" Police statement.
Putting forward the motion was more about political points-scoring than protecting public safety, he argued.
In the post, Cllr Fernandes said: "It is disappointing that Moray Labour and Conservative Councillors have decided to make a meal out of a misguided statement from the deputy chief officer of Police Scotland.
"This has caused unnecessary fear and alarm among vulnerable people who rely on the 101 phone number.
"Community safety is a serious matter. It is not an opportunity to make swiping and frivolous statements just to have a pop at the Scottish Government.
"It is important to highlight that Moray is one of the safest areas in Scotland.
"The Scottish Government has consistently supported the platform, and has reaffirmed this support by maintaining Police Scotland's capital funding in the 2023/2024 budget.
"The extra £80 million for Police Scotland in this year's budget again shows the SNP's support for the service and the outstanding work our officers do it protect our communities."
In a question on the minutes of the February 2 meeting, Cllr Divers hit back at the criticisms.
He said: "It would appear that a fellow Councillor, sat in this chamber at the moment, has had a go at the Labour group and the Conservative group for putting this motion forward.
"He was actually having a go at us for being political, rather than dealing with safety issues.
"I can assure this same councillor that I sat on the Grampian Fire Board for 13 years, the police and fire committee for 11 years, that I was the convener of the community justice authority and that I have always had the safety of the people of Moray at heart.
"It is quite galling when somebody goes on social media making comments about fellow councillors, without any relevance to what the actual facts are.
"Can I just say that, when he has a go at the Labour and Conservative party, he mentions no word of Councillor Leadbitter, who actually supported the motion."
The motion was agreed unanimously at the Council meeting, though Councillor Graham Leadbitter (SNP, Elgin South), proposed the amendment which excluded the Scottish Government from the letter.
