Four police stations across Dundee and Fife could close under plans from Police Scotland.
Three sites in Dundee have been earmarked for closure by the force.
These are:
- Hilltown
- Ryehill (West End)
- Dundee Annexe
The services based here would instead move to the headquarters at West Bell Street.
Oakley in Fife could also shut – with a new location for the services here still to be confirmed.
A consultation on the plans is being launched.
Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said Police Scotland’s estate needed “to be fit for 21st-century policing” as the buildings proposed for closure were revealed.
Why are the police stations being closed?
Hilltown Police Station is currently the only one on the list that deals with members of the public.
The station, at the junction with North George Street, does have a public counter – but it is not staffed.
Officers only answer the door to the public when the station is manned.
The review stated the building is only used by operational officers for “comfort breaks”.
The long-term future of Ryehill Police Station in the West End has been under scrutiny for several years.
In 2016, the force decided to keep the station open after a backlash regarding its potential closure.
At the time the force said it was exploring options of a shared use.
Police now say the building has “limited use”.
Dundee Annexe, situated at the Dudhope Roundabout, is the largest building in the city under review.
Dating back to the 1970s, the five-storey building has no local police based within it.
In Fife, Oakley is currently used by operational support divisional officers.
Meanwhile, Police Scotland is also consulting on the future of Burntisland station, which has been vacant for more than three years.
‘Our presence is not defined by buildings’ says top officer
Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham insists axing the buildings won’t adversely impact community policing.
“Our estate needs to be fit for 21st-century policing,” he said.
“Our presence in communities is not defined by buildings but by the officers and staff who work there.
“We have already introduced technology that enables our officers to remain in local areas, reducing the need for them to return to police stations to deal with paperwork.
“We are determined to continue to improve our visibility and accessibility.”
Conversation