POLITICIANS have called for a wide-ranging inquiry into the operation of Police Scotland following the death of Lamara Bell yesterday.

An investigation by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner has already begun and the justice minister yesterday also ordered a probe into call handling by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland.

But questions have been raised about whether the case stemmed from an individual error or was linked to systemic problems at the force, which was centralised in April 2013.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie welcomed the justice secretary's announcement but said the case for a wider probe was becoming “unanswerable”.

The MSP said: “This announcement is welcome, as far as it goes. Clearly there were failures in the way that this call was handled and it is right that we look closely at the processes around call handling. With serving officers and others raising concerns over the changes that we have seen within control rooms this is the least that should be expected.

“But with reports of police officers backfilling civilian posts, huge workload pressures and morale at rock bottom there is a strong case for a wider independent review. I hope that the Justice Secretary will listen to the arguments of the growing number of people seeking a proper assessment of Police Scotland's operations.”

Paying tribute to Ms Bell, Mr Rennie said: “Her father's bedside singing and her family's publicly expressed anguish were clear manifestations of the love they felt for Lamara.

“We all feel terribly sad that her life has ended and in this awful way. Whilst her family and friends grieve for Lamara, it is now our duty to find the answers that everyone is seeking.”

The Scottish Conservatives' justice spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell said: “The second death in relation to this incident really increases the pressure on Police Scotland and the Scottish Government.

“They both assured the public the 101 number was working well and there was nothing to worry about, despite police officers telling a different story. This tragic incident proves that not to be the case.”

Scottish Labour's justice spokeswoman Elaine Murray said Ms Bell's death reinforces the need for an “urgent, full and wide-ranging inquiry” by the Pirc.

“We need to get to the bottom of why it took police more than 72 hours to respond to an emergency call,” she said.

Calum Steele, General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said: “The Scottish Police Federation welcomes the Review by HMICS.

"We trust it will be permitted completely free reign to look at all relevant issues no matter how uncomfortable they may be.  In particular, we hope the review examines the systems of work, training, workloads and working conditions for all staff working in the call handling area."

He called on HMICS to ensure the review 'honestly assesses the capacity of the police service to deliver all that is asked of it at a time when police officers are working harder and longer than ever before, in a service that has greater demands placed on it than ever before."

He warned the situation was "set against a backdrop of a shrinking police budget and a general anti public-sector and austerity agenda."

"If the HMICS is not afforded that latitude, I fear the police risks being used as a political football for years to come," he added.