Highland police stations 'lying empty', claims councillor
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
POLICE stations from Thurso to Ullapool are lying virtually empty because of a lack of staff, a Highland councillor has claimed.
George Farlow, who lives in Ullapool, raised the alarm at the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee this week.
The North, West and Central Sutherland SNP councillor told the area’s temporary Chief Inspector Iain MacLelland: "I don’t want to say this too loudly but it could be that between Ullapool and Thurso there are no police officers on duty because the police officers who are on duty have been called away and there is no replacement. I know North West Sutherland is one of the safest places in the world but I think people like to sleep in their beds at night knowing that one of your officers are over in the police station."
The concern was echoed by Caithness Independent councillor Matthew Reiss, who was the former far north police commander. He agreed the crime levels were low and it was an extremely safe place to stay, but said it was also "the most remote bit in the UK" and appropriate police officer coverage was essential.
CI MacLelland said he understood it must be frustrating for people living in that area "with regards to permanent police presence".
He added: "Just be assured there is 24-hour coverage so when there are no officers working out of a specific station there are officers working within the general area. But I appreciate that’s not something that might be suitable and if we can increase foot patrols I am keen to do that."
It is understood Tongue Community Council raised similar concerns last week over a lack of police presence in Tongue Police Station.
The North Star filed an FOI to Police Scotland earlier this year listing all stations in the Highlands and asking the police force for details on the number of police officers physically on duty at the listed stations between February 2014 and July 2nd 2014.
Police Scotland’s Freedom of Information team said disclosing those details would "compromise the tactical and operational decision making of officers engaged in the prevention and detection of crime and the apprehension of criminals. In addition disclosure of the information would give criminals the information they need to assess the capability of one division as opposed to another and have the potential to direct their decision-making as to which divisional area to commit a crime".
