THE TAYSIDE branch of the Fire Brigades Union has called for better technology and a new national control centre to help co-ordinate Scotland’s response to terrorist attacks.

Jim Malone, secretary of the FBU on Tayside, said last night that while the area is well placed to deal with the threat from terrorism, more needs to be done to ensure the protection the fire service offers is available in the event of multiple attacks.

His message follows the announcement of a formal consultation period into the resilience of the nation’s fire control centres by the Scottish Government on Monday.

Minister for Community Safety Fergus Ewing launched the consultation to help ensure control centres are able to serve their communities and deal with major threats.

Mr Malone said, “We have already seen, with the attack on Glasgow Airport, that the fire service’s response can cope—and could cope—with a terrorist without any problems.

“But there is no debate that with the new technology we could do it much better, and if that means a national centre to back up our control room then we will support that and we’ll supply evidence that will back that up.”

At present, a nearby control centre —either in the Fife or Grampian regions—would help manage the response in the event of two major incidents.

The SNP administration announced in December that none of Scotland’s eight command centres—including one in Dundee and another in Thornton, Fife—would be forced to close.

A spokesperson for Tayside Fire and Rescue said last night, “We are very pleased with the Scottish Government’s decision to retain the eight fire control centres in Scotland.

“We look forward to participating in the consultation process, which looks at improving the resilience of these controls.

Fire service staff, local authorities, unions and other stakeholders will be invited to comment on call handling, buildings and physical issues, the technology used by the service, working procedures and the role of control rooms in supporting critical national infrastructure.