Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says Police Scotland have access to the necessary intelligence on terrorist issues and the suggestion of that BTP has any more intelligence is simply not true.

Mr Matheson say any reaction to terrorist attack would be delivered by Police Scotland now and integration will create a single command structure.

He says security will be enhanced by having a single command structure.

Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell says it has been stated that BTP use UK-wide intelligence and that Police Scotland do not have the same protocols.

Mr Matheson says that Police Scotland do have "direct links into the UK-wide intelligence network."

The justice secretary says plans will create a single commend structure in Scotland as to how matters are dealt with.

He says this will not just be in rail but also roads and ports.

Image source, DAILY MAIL/SOLO SYNDICATION

The mother of Westminster attacker Khalid Masood has said she is "shocked, saddened and numbed" by his actions.

Janet Ajao said she had "shed many tears for the people caught up in this horrendous incident".

Masood killed three people when he drove a car into pedestrians last Wednesday. He then fatally stabbed a police officer before being shot dead.

Meanwhile, police say no evidence has been found of links between Masood and so-called Islamic State or al-Qaeda.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Committee convener Margaret Mitchell asks if at a time of heightened security alert is taking the risk of integration is justified.

Mr Matheson says at any heightened risk in Scotland BTP Scotland would receive greater resource..

The justice secretary says he has no doubt that with the integration the protocols and arrangements to be put in place around bomb hoaxes will mean they have the same resources.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says there is a triple lock guarantee on jobs, pay and pensions.

Mr Matheson says positive discussions are now underway with the BTP authority. 

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says there have been regular and constructive conversations with the railway industry who have "a crucial role"

Mr Matheson says plans will make railway policing accountable.

The justice secretary says there will be an opportunity for improved efficiency.

The committee received written evidence from two anonymous officers who both warned that some BTP staff will seek to transfer to other forces rather than move to Police Scotland.

• Anonymous submission one, external
• Anonymous submission two, external

Image source, AP

One told the committee that some officers had already left for BTP units in England and Wales, while some in Scotland had left "due to the uncertainty over the proposed merger", as they "do not want to join Police Scotland for a variety of reasons".

These officers also said cross-border train services would "notice a poorer quality of service" and that "criminals that travel across the border could potentially be missed" due to the different BTP and Police Scotland computer systems.

Image source, bbc

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson says the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill comes from the transfer of power from the Scotland Act 2016. 

Mr Matheson says the Smith Commission said the functions of the British Transport Police should be a devolved matter.

He says the bill will integrate BTP with Police Scotland.

The  Justice Committee, external 's evidence session on the  Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill, external  gets underway: 

Committee convener Margaret Mitchell take evidence on the legislation at Stage 1 from— 

• Justice Secretary Michael Matheson
• Transport Secretary Humza Yousaf

• Don McGillivray from the Scottish government
• Kevin Gibson from the Scottish government
• Gordon Macleod from Transport Scotland

Police Scotland's Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins told MSP there was a "risk that the skill base will be diluted", but added that "it's my job to make sure that doesn't happen".

He said railway training will eventually form part of the basic training for all Police Scotland officers, saying this would result in "17,000 officers with the skills to operate within the railway environment", alongside a smaller number with "bespoke" specialist skills.

Image source, bbc

Mr Higgins said that while officers could "potentially" be redeployed in the case of a major incident, there would "absolutely" be a specialist transport policing unit and those transferring in from BTP would have the right to remain policing only the railways until they retire.

Asked by Conservative MSP Douglas Ross if two years was enough time to carry out the merger, Mr Higgins said that was "frankly a luxury, based on what we've had to do previously".

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

The chief constable of British Transport Police has warned plans for a merger with Police Scotland could lead to a loss of specialist skills.

Paul Crowther told Holyrood's Justice Committee of a "real challenge" in replacing officers amid a "significant outflow of expertise".

He told MSPs of the bomb threats, fatalities and near-death incidents officers often have to deal with.

Police Scotland has called the merger plan  "complex but not insurmountable" .

Image source, PA

Holyrood is currently  considering a bill  which would pave the way to absorbing the functions of the British Transport Police (BTP) into Police Scotland north of the border by April 2019.

The Scottish government has  long wanted to integrate the service  into Police Scotland, seeing it as the most "efficient and effective" way of delivering policing across the country.

The  Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill, external  confers extra policing powers on the Scottish Police Authority and the Police Service of Scotland, but further legislation would be needed at Holyrood and Westminster to transfer staff, properties and cross-border policing functions.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

The Justice Committee, external will  take evidence on the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill, external .

MSPs will take evidence on the legislation at Stage 1 from— 

• Justice Secretary Michael Matheson
• Transport Secretary Humza Yousaf

• Don McGillivray from the Scottish government
• Kevin Gibson from the Scottish government
• Gordon Macleod from Transport Scotland.