A union official who represents police civilian staff has said the proposed closure of public counter services in Tayside is a “toxic issue” which is being played down by Police Scotland.
Drew Livingstone, Unison’s Police Staff Scotland services and conditions officer in Dundee, said he believes the closures are a fait accompli, despite consultation on plans.
Mr Livingstone has written to every Dundee city councillor calling for them to support the campaign to keep public counter services open but said he has been “bitterly disappointed” at the response.
Dundee Labour group has made its own submission to the consultation and Councillor Lesley Brennan attempted to have the matter debated at the policy and resources committee on Monday night only for her request to be rebuffed by administration leader Ken Guild on the grounds it was not an emergency motion.
At their latest full meeting, Angus councillors agreed unanimously to a motion put forward by depute council leader Paul Valentine, which will see the rural authority’s chief executive seek a police board representative’s attendance to explain the thinking behind the move.
Angus is also to look at the possibility of putting shared counter services in place in closure-threatened Montrose, Brechin and Carnoustie, similar to successful arrangements in Monifieth and Kirriemuir.
In his email to the Dundee councillors, Mr Livingstone said: “I have observed with interest the recent development by Police Scotland to shut public counter facilities at a number of police stations throughout the Tayside area and I am greatly concerned about the removal of what is an essential frontline service provision.
“There is a great deal of understatement regarding the significance of the service removal and little mention of the police staff providing a front counter service who will find themselves without a post.
“Clearly this is a toxic issue and one which is being avoided and played down at all costs.
“The most common falsehood relayed to the public is that, by closing the public counter, police officers will be freed up to perform high-visibility duties on the street.
“How can this be the case when the front counters at stations being closed are manned by police staff and not a police officer?
“Rural communities will be the worst affected and the plans for Perthshire and Angus are extremely concerning for the communities there, with little regard to geographical position of stations to one another or the existing transport network/infrastructure serving these communities.
“If these closures go ahead there will be 1,500 square miles in rural Perthshire not covered by police counter services. And there will also be no counter service between Bell Street and Arbroath, which is shocking.”
Mr Guild told Ms Brennan: “The information about proposed amendments to counter services has been with councillors for over a week and cannot therefore be regarded as a last-minute emergency.
“This was sent out to every councillor, each of whom is able to make his or her own observations or objections. Under the circumstances, I cannot accept the inclusion of this motion.”
Ms Brennan said: “Angus Council passed a motion expressing its disappointment at the proposed changes for their areas.
“My motion was an opportunity for the council in Dundee to stand up and say that, as a collective body representing the people of this city, it would express its opposition to the proposed changes for Dundee. The administration of Dundee City Council has missed the opportunity to say so.
“Community policing needs to retain the link between the police and the public that the counter service provides.”