News / Ex police chief stands for council
FORMER Shetland police chief Malcolm Bell has declared his intention to stand for election to the local authority as in independent for the Lerwick North ward in May.
Mr Bell, who retired from the police force after 30 years service in late 2009, joined candidate Drew Ratter in calling for a team approach to help Shetland Islands Council face its current and future difficulties.
Mr Bell was deputy area commander of the local police force from 200 to 2006 when he was promoted to area commander, when he became chair of the Shetland’s child protection committee, the local community safety partnership and is independent convener of the Shetland adult protection committee.
He said: “It is essential that the council creates confidence and provides strong, effective and cohesive leadership as we enter a period that could make or break us.
“I have been disappointed at some of the headlines which have appeared over the last few years and we cannot afford to let that continue. I firmly believe that Shetland’s best days are still ahead of it ,but we will only realise this if we build trust and take fair, considered, transparent decisions.
“One key factor of my entire public career, from the police to NHS Shetland, is my strong belief that the only way to get things done is through working openly and honestly as part of a team. I am very keen to take this approach with me into the council, should I be elected.
“I have no doubt that the very future of public services in Shetland are at threat if we fail to get it right. We have already seen the centralisation of police and fire services, the number of health boards could be reduced and if we don’t get our act together, small councils, like the SIC, will be next.
“I believe it is essential that we retain governance for public services here in Shetland. We must not sleepwalk into a situation where, instead of electing 22 councillors to the SIC, we are reduced to sending a handful of representatives to meetings of some future strategic ‘Highland’s and Islands Authority’ in Inverness.
“That would be an unmitigated disaster for Shetland. We must remain responsible for our own destiny and with it the ability to apply local solutions to local problems.”
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