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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Police Scotland proposes reducing number of control rooms | Police Scotland proposes reducing number of control rooms |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police Scotland has proposed reducing 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 would 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. | The control rooms deal with emergency 999 calls, as well as calls to the non-emergency 101 number. |
| The force has estimated that the changes, to be introduced in stages over the next two years, would save £46.62m and £73.68m by 2026. | |
| Full details have been submitted to the Scottish Police Authority ahead of a meeting next week. | |
| 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' |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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." | 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." |
| Under the proposed restructuring, Motherwell and Govan would form a West Area Control centre. | Under the proposed restructuring, Motherwell and Govan would form a West Area Control centre. |
| Bilston Glen would have responsibility for the East Command Area and Dundee the North Area Command. | Bilston Glen would have responsibility for the East Command Area and Dundee the North Area Command. |
| A National Virtual Service Centre will be split between Govan, Motherwell and Bilston Glen. | 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. | 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. |
| 'Local services' | |
| It will also become the base for the police national computer and the criminal history database. | It will also become the base for the police national computer and the criminal history database. |
| Highland Council leader Drew Hendry said the proposals would see Inverness gain up to 50 new jobs. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "Otherwise the Scottish government will increasingly be seen as simply withdrawing from the North East, despite our role as the economic driver for Scotland." |
| Unison, the union which represents most civilian staff in police control rooms, said the proposal could mean 300 people losing their jobs. | |
| The union's regional officer, Gerry Crawley, said: "These closures are not about making our communities safety. They are budget driven cuts. Scottish government is cutting £139m from police budgets between now and 2017 and £1bn over 12 years. | |
| "Closing these control centres puts 300 jobs at risk, we are concerned that 999 and 101 services will be less responsive and local communities having lost police stations across the country will see even more local cuts. | |
| "Police Scotland will lose a lot of local knowledge". |