ONE IN six police buildings are not in daily use and court premises valued at more than £1 million are empty, according to data gathered by the Scottish Conservatives.
Of 412 police properties across the country, 60 are “not currently in day-to-day use”. Meanwhile, sheriff courts which have shut but not sold total an estimated value of around £1.13million. These include Cumbernauld, Arbroath, Cupar, Stonehaven and Duns.
Police Scotland began a programme of front-counter closures in 2014, while a number of sheriff and justice of the peace courts have closed in the last few years, making substantial savings.
Scottish Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell, convener of Holyrood’s Justice Committee, said: “We were critical of SNP plans to close police stations and court buildings from the outset.
“But what this shows is that those proposals went on regardless, without any thought as to what to do with the buildings.
“It’s yet another example of the SNP making sweeping decisions without even trying to think the whole process through.”
Police Scotland said a number of the buildings which are not in day-to-day use are still used occasionally, while others are subject to “ongoing engagement with stakeholders regarding future use”.
Assistant Chief Constable Andrew Cowie said: “Police Scotland needs buildings which are modern, flexible and fit for future policing across the wide range of communities we serve.
“This is about enhancing the service we deliver – not doing less.”
Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service chief executive Eric McQueen said court closures were already achieving annual recurring savings of £1m and backlog maintenance savings of £2.8m.
He said the service had “clear disposal plans” for each of its surplus buildings. Stonehaven and Arbroath would be transferred to local community groups.
“By later summer, we expect to have transferred ownership of the former Cupar court to Fife Council and we are considering a similar transfer at Cumbernauld.”
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