Police staff trade union UNISON has described Police Scotland plans to sell off a range of buildings across Scotland as a measure that will make policing more remote and less accessible.
Police Scotland have announced plans to sell off 28 properties across Scotland which they deem “surplus to requirements”. Many of the properties are Police Stations which have been closed in recent years as policing has been centralised.
Police staff in Scotland, are already facing job losses through a proposed Voluntary Redundancy scheme, now many of them will see their job moved as Police Scotland further retracts from being accessible to the public.
David Malcolm, Branch Secretary, UNISON Police Scotland said “No one seriously thinks that this is about improving services – it is a cost cutting measure. It might deliver balanced books, but it won’t deliver better policing.
“These measures themselves will shape the demand from the public and put pressure on already stretched resources in the police contact centre and control rooms as more communities see their police offices taken away.
We agree with Police Scotland that the Police estate is in a mess – but the way to sort that is to make the case for long term investment, not short term asset stripping”
Notes for Editors
Police Scotland announced a voluntary redundancy scheme for police staff in a bid to save money earlier this month.