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Police Scotland proposes reducing number of control rooms Police Scotland proposes reducing number of control rooms
(35 minutes later)
Police Scotland has proposed halving the number of control rooms it operates across the country. Police Scotland has proposed reducing the number of control rooms it operates across the country.
The force wants to close its control rooms in Aberdeen, Stirling, Dumfries, Glenrothes and Pitt Street in Glasgow.The force wants to close its control rooms in Aberdeen, Stirling, Dumfries, Glenrothes and Pitt Street in Glasgow.
But facilities at Govan, Motherwell, Inverness, Dundee and Bilston Glen, near Edinburgh, would be retained.But facilities at Govan, Motherwell, Inverness, Dundee and Bilston Glen, near Edinburgh, would be retained.
Control rooms currently employ 1,495 police officers and civilians. The force has said there will be no compulsory redundancies. Control rooms currently employ 1,495 police officers and civilians. The force has said there would be no compulsory redundancies.
Police Scotland's 10 control rooms and nine service centres are spread across 11 sites, including two in Aberdeen.Police Scotland's 10 control rooms and nine service centres are spread across 11 sites, including two in Aberdeen.
The control rooms deal with emergency 999 calls, as well as calls to the non-emergency 101 number.
In a letter to north east MSP Richard Baker, Assistant Chief Constable Mike McCormick said the move would enhance the force's ability to respond to complex and large-scale incidents.In a letter to north east MSP Richard Baker, Assistant Chief Constable Mike McCormick said the move would enhance the force's ability to respond to complex and large-scale incidents.
'High costs''High costs'
The officer wrote: "Following the creation of Police Scotland a comprehensive review identified a range of opportunities to improve and modernise our response to 999 and 101 calls and enhance the deployment of police resources nationally. He said that a review of 999 and 101 calls were handled showed having fewer but larger sites, with enhanced IT systems, would bring the most significant improvements.
"In particular it identified that the most significant improvement would result from having fewer but larger sites, with these being enhanced by the introduction of modern integrated ICT systems. ACC McCormick said: "Moving to larger centres will enhance our capability to respond to complex and large-scale incidents with increased availability of staff on site, better technology and easier and faster ways to share information."
"While the current structure across the 11 sites may appear to be effective, the reality is one of inconsistent and at times fragile service levels, constrained information flow, low productivity, missed opportunities to optimise resource deployment and high costs. Under the proposed restructuring, Motherwell and Govan would form a West Area Control centre.
"Moving to larger centres will enhance our capability to respond to complex and large-scale incidents with increased availability of staff on site, better technology and easier and faster ways to share information." Bilston Glen would have responsibility for the East Command Area and Dundee the North Area Command.
Full details of the proposals are to be submitted to the Scottish Police Authority ahead of a meeting next week. A National Virtual Service Centre will be split between Govan, Motherwell and Bilston Glen.
Inverness would lose its police control room but will instead become the new hub for the command and control of major incidents and national events anywhere in the country, equipped with new communications systems.
Full details
It will also become the base for the police national computer and the criminal history database.
The changes would be introduced in stages over the next two years.
Full details have been submitted to the Scottish Police Authority ahead of a meeting next week.
Highland Council leader Drew Hendry said the proposals would see Inverness gain up to 50 new jobs.
Mr Hendry said: "If this is confirmed, it will be great news, with the prospect of more high quality jobs for the area.
"I would like to think our strong representations to the Scottish government over the future of police and fire control centres has contributed significantly to this outcome. The decision also recognises the expertise we have in the Highlands in this important area of work."
But Mr Baker, a Labour MSP, said the plan to close both Aberdeen sites was a "slap in the face" for those who worked there.
A decision is also imminent on the future of the fire control room in the city.
Mr Baker said: "Ministers assured us local services would be protected in their plans for national police and fire services, but this has certainly not proved to be the case in the north east, where our area has been targeted for closures.
"I am now calling on (Justice Secretary) Kenny MacAskill to meet urgently with the members of both boards and for a complete rethink of the current approach.
"Otherwise the Scottish government will increasingly be seen as simply withdrawing from the North East, despite our role as the economic driver for Scotland."