Police stations in the line of fire

Published 28 Oct 2011 09:30 5 Comments

PEEBLESSHIRE is facing a double-whammy as cash-strapped police chiefs unveiled plans to close stations across the region in a desperate bid to save money - but they have denied it will have any impact on frontline services.

Lothian and Borders Police this week revealed it has recommended the potential sale of police stations in Innerleithen, West Linton and Newcastleton, as well as plans to close the police post in Earlston, following a cost-cutting review.

It has also proposed slashing the opening hours at the police station in Peebles, while the future of stations in Selkirk, Melrose and Lauder are among those that remain in doubt.

However, the force, which last year announced plans to cut £43million from its budget, admitted the proposed changes would only save it around £14,000 annually - around half the salary of a serving police constable.

Speaking to the Peeblesshire News at police headquarters in Hawick on Monday, Chief Superintendent Graham Sinclair, the Divisional Commander for the Scottish Borders, said: "I am acutely aware of the concerns and the likely impact of this announcement on the communities most closely affected."

But he added: "We have got a requirement to make savings and I would prefer to close buildings which we don't use very much than lose officers on the frontline."

The stations involved have been selected according to usage levels. The proposals are due to be debated at the next meeting of Lothian and Borders Police Board in Haddington on November 14.

The head of policing in the Borders, who revealed less people were dropping in to police stations to report crime, preferring instead to use the phone, insisted the proposals would protect frontline services - including its 236 officers (95 per cent of whom live locally) - in the face of more significant cuts in the future.

He revealed the introduction of a pay freeze, voluntary redundancies, and a stop on recruitment had already saved the region more than £500,000 in the past year.

Last year, seven of the 37 sergeants in G Division who were due to retire or leave were not replaced.

However, as well as co-locating with other partners in the public sector, the Border Telegraph can reveal police chiefs are also considering drafting in a mobile police station to replace any of the region's 15 stations if they are closed.

Chief Superintendent Sinclair said: "We have a mobile police station which our officers covering the more remote areas in the Borders have been using and are using increasingly and one of the things that we are looking at is the prospect of using that more, as well as using other public sector buildings more. But these plans have not been thought out at this stage."

Local Councillor Gavin Logan, one of two members of Scottish Borders Council on the police board, admitted he was "disappointed" with the announcement this week.

And he has vowed to campaign against any closures.

He said: "The annual savings of around £14,000 does not seem much when it is considered in relation to the whole Police budget and these savings will not contribute much in maintaining front line services.

"The Borders will not benefit much from the sale of these properties because any capital receipts will go directly into a central pot, however I was pleased to get an assurance today that a significant amount of the money will be spent in the Border.

"There is a Police Board meeting on November 14 and I will be pointing out that G Division (Borders) is losing three stations which is much more than any other Division.

"The reduction in hours in Peebles is particularly concerning when the recent changes in policing structures in the Borders are considered plus any changes that will occur when the Single Police Force is imposed on us."

It has been proposed to only open the Peebles office to the public on weekdays between 9am and 5pm instead of between 7am and 10pm at present - which, according to police chiefs, is when it is most busy.

Councillor Logan added: "It can not be claimed that any of these stations are busy but they are seen as an important part of the community and if closed will be sorely missed.

"It should not be forgotten that community engagement is an important part of policing and that the fear of crime is real and the reassurance of a police presence is to be encouraged."

Community councillors revealed they were unaware of the plans until the Peeblesshire News contacted them this week.

Margaret Harrison, chairwoman of West Linton Community Council, said: "It is only a little office and I don't think it is used very much."

But she added: "We didn't know this was happening and we can't really say anything until we contact the police to find out why."

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 28 Oct 11

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  joe_public
  Unregistered User
  Oct 30, 20:27
  Report comment

  Is that the sound of a cut I hear??? What would we prefer, empty stations or people on the street?? Here's an idea, why don't you ask us? What I would prefer is people working at the stations that are due to close. I can remember the days when an officer was at Broughton, one at West Linton, three at Peebles and two at Innerleithen. If there are more cops, surely this would be easy?
  
  Recommend?   Yes 17     No 3

• 

  24-7
  Unregistered User
  Oct 31, 08:47
  Report comment

  If this were two years down the line and there was local elected police commissioners would these cuts be happening or would they high heid yins be protecting themselves.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 12     No 2

• 

  hazelkaye
  224 posts
  Oct 31, 20:55
  Report comment

  Loss of rural railway stations - petrol stations - polling stations - police stations!
  
  SO? What's new?
  
  Recommend?   Yes 2     No 8

• 

  joe_public
  Unregistered User
  Nov 1, 07:40
  Report comment

  I appreciate what you're saying, but if you don't fight to save these services you in up living in a ghost town.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 8     No 4

• 

  Lucas
  Unregistered User
  Nov 2, 21:25
  Report comment

  We need to see a clearly defined plan outlining the level of required law enforcement for these locations and across the region. Only then will we know what changed are needed. So where is the plan?
  
  Recommend?   Yes 7     No 4

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