Concerns have been raised over the future of Dundee’s emergency police control room amid claims Scotland could be left with as little as three to cover the whole country.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie made the claim and attacked the policy of “centralisation” when he clashed with Alex Salmond during First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.
Mr Rennie said seven out of 10 control rooms face the axe, meaning services in Fife, Stirling and Dundee could potentially be under threat.
Multiple sources have told The Courier that Helen Street in Glasgow’s Govan area and Bilston Glen, near Edinburgh, are almost certain to be two of the three saved.
It is understood there is a battle under way for the third location between Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen, with the latter thought to have fallen behind in the race as it is seen as an expensive site.
Mr Rennie said: “Police emergency control rooms in Aberdeen, Glenrothes, Inverness, Dumfries and more will shut. Instead of protecting the fire and police forces, centralisation has led to the asset stripping of local services.”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police Scotland is reviewing all areas of business including the current operating procedure of our contact centres and control rooms.
“No decisions have yet been taken on future provision and any decisions will be subject to engagement with staff and the Scottish Police Authority.”
An SPA board meeting this week heard Scotland’s 10 control rooms “collectively manage more than 4.2 million emergency and non-emergency calls per year.”
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