Scores of public counter services will be shut to save money and standardise services across the single police force, Police Scotland has announced.
The force says it aims to “make the best of police resources and provide best value for money” and “see a greater consistency of public counter provision”.
The creation of the single police force was intended to save £1.7 billion, and Police Scotland says it has provided the opportunity to review and standardise services and procedures throughout Scotland.
Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Mawson, who led the review of the police’s services and procedures, said: “The public access our services in many ways, but we have seen the number of people calling at public counters drop in recent years.
“Our review will reduce opening hours at some public counters across Scotland but this is where analysis of demand has provided evidence which has allowed us to take these steps without significantly impacting on the level of service enjoyed by communities.”
There has already been an angry reaction to the plans, which will go out for consultation.
Scottish Conservative justice spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell MSP said: “One of the main reasons behind moving to a single force was to create economies of scale.
“However, the Scottish Government at no point said one of the first things the single force would do is shut police stations all over the country.
“This is a worrying and retrograde step, and one which will do nothing to improve public confidence in the safety of our streets or the overall justice system.”
Alison McInnes MSP, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman, said: “The police have turned their backs on local communities. These plans could further erode local policing.
“The proposed closure of 65 public counters in police stations could have a real impact on long-established links between police and the local community.
As many as a dozen of the 14 main police stations in Fife face having their public opening hours downgraded or being closed completely to the public under the plans.
Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline police stations are set to continue offering 24-hour, seven-day-per-week public counter access.
However, it is being proposed Cupar, Leven, Glenrothes and Cowdenbeath police stations move to 7am to midnight cover.
St Andrews police station and SW Fife station (Dalgety Bay) will reduce from 24/7 public access to 9am to 5pm access.
Meanwhile, it is proposed Burntisland, Oakley, Cardenden, East Neuk (Anstruther), Howe of Fife (Auchtermuchty) and Taycoast (Newport) provide no public counter service at all.
Police Scotland have stressed although most police station public counters would be closed overnight under the proposals, local officers will still be working out of the stations and actively patrolling communities.
An intercom link installed last year in all Fife police stations to the area control room in Glenrothes would continue.
Chairman of Fife Council’s Police Transition Committee, Gavin Yates, said: “From what I have seen so far Fife is being asked to take a large reduction. Local people might have differing views about these cuts but they must be heard and I hope the response to this consultation is listened to.”
Police traffic wardens will also be phased out. Staff affected by the cuts will be consulted on their options which include alternative roles in the force.
Many of the old regional forces had already stopped providing traffic wardens.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Operational decisions around the management of resources is a matter for the Chief Constable of Police Scotland.
“Since 2007, this Government has provided 1,000 extra officers working across Scotland to keep our communities safe, and crime is at an almost 40-year low.”The full list of services facing review is available at www.scotland.police.uk