A FORMER copper has slammed Labour controlled Renfrewshire Council for "policing on the cheap".

The SNP’s Elected Member for Renfrew North Ward, Cllr Bill Perrie, has criticised the council for advertising trainee placements for special constables.

He believes that this could undermine police terms and conditions and also divert the Council from its core responsibilities to its residents.

Cllr Perrie, a former Strathclyde Police traffic policeman in Glasgow, also feels that the scheme could be considered as going against the law.

He said: "The Scottish Police Federation has condemned this backward move by Labour in Renfrewshire as potentially unlawful, and one which undermines national police terms and conditions.

"I agree with this 100% and call on Labour to think again on this, they may be well intentioned but special constables have always been unpaid, so this is an attack on the present policing structure.

"I think it could also be unlawful as special constables cannot be paid under the present Police Scotland arrangements, local authorities do not appoint them the police do, and there is no mechanism whereby specials can be paid.

"I want answers as to who suggested this hare-brained scheme and why on earth did they think Police Scotland would accept this interference in their own affairs.

"Special constables are clearly part of Police Scotland not local authorities.

"I am all for job opportunities and job creation, but interfering in policing policy is not appropriate or warranted.

"The Council has its own challenges which this ailing and failing Labour administration cannot meet, to fill in the potholes, keep the streets lit, and to keep recycling centres open, it cannot meet these basic responsibilities so why meddle in an area outside its control. Time to think again."

Renfrewshire Council have since decided to withdraw their involvement in the scheme due to backlash.

Council Leader, Mark Macmillan, said: "We have now been advised by Police Scotland that they have reconsidered their position and will now not be proceeding with their involvement.

"On that basis, and following recent negative publicity, and comments from the Police Federation, we regret that the scheme will not be going ahead.

"However we absolutely refute Councillor Perrie's allegation that the programme was potentially unlawful.

"Our aim was that the special constables could have played a distinctive supporting role which was categorically not policing on the cheap.

"We respect the decision of Police Scotland and therefore have stopped any further development of the scheme."