PLANS for an anti- corruption regime for Strathclyde Police's civilian staff have been dropped after nearly a year of talks.

The force, its ruling board and unions have failed to come to an agreement on a scheme to force non-officers to declare gifts and second jobs.

However, Strathclyde Police Authority now expects Scotland's new single service to tackle the issue when it comes into being in April.

Unison, the union that represents many civilians in the police, believes the new ruling could threaten the human rights of its members, who are also facing the brunt of cuts to the service.

A register of all business interests and gifts was recommended after a major audit last February.

Philip Braat, the Glasgow councillor who chairs the soon-to-be-abolished Strathclyde Police Authority, said: "This is an important issue that needs to be addressed.

"I expect the new Scottish Police Authority will progress discussions with staff associations as part of the wider review of staff terms and conditions."

For years Graeme Pearson, who used to run the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and is now a Labour MSP, has been warning that gangsters have been trying to corrupt police officers and civilian staff. His concerns are shared by senior serving officers.

Strathclyde Deputy Chief Constable Neil Richardson – now doing the same job for the whole of Scotland – warned in 2011 that 27 groups were trying to infiltrate his force.

Mr Pearson added: "I hope the single police force will have new contracts that allow the declaration of interests so the police service in general can protect itself from these threats."

Unison's branch in Strathclyde objected when the force tried to bring staff under the "same umbrella" as officers.

The union says staff have a right to a private life, enshrined in the European Human Rights Convention.

It says once staff have worked their 35 hours a week, what they do within their own time is, within reason, their own business.

Branch chairman Stephen Diamond stressed there were criminal and disciplinary sanctions for civilian employees who broke rules or the law.

He added: "Due to the nature of some roles carried out by police staff, they require to be subject to security vetting. In addition, staff are all security checked to some degree when they start work.

"This vetting is proportionate to the role being undertaken. Therefore, if there was any part of their life outside work that could be construed as being detrimental to the service, this would be picked up during this process.

"There are some types of work that would be incompatible and appear to be a conflict of interest with working in the Police Service. For example, security work, stewarding, involvement in licensed premises and suchlike.

"Any conflict could be dealt with within the terms of our current disciplinary polices.

"Notwithstanding this, Unison will be negotiating and consulting with the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland about harmonised terms and conditions within the next 12-15 months."

david.leask@heraldandtimes.co.uk