POLICE Scotland has been slammed for giving the public just six weeks to respond to a consultation on the planned closure of its Inverclyde station - after it emerged that an official webpage dedicated to the issue went live online two months ago.
The 'Involving You in the Shaping of Our Estate' section of the Police Scotland website displays an opening date of October 9 alongside the closing date for the consultation of January 31.
An intention by top brass to shut the existing Greenock police office - along with other stations throughout the country - was officially announced to the media on Thursday.
Police sources in Inverclyde have said that the proposed closure has left rank-and-file officers 'devastated'.
Bosses yesterday refused to answer a series of questions from the Telegraph, snubbing queries about whether any new police office in the district would have a public-facing front counter and cells for holding arrested people.
A police source said: "Police Scotland announced this consultation publicly through the media on Thursday, but when you look at its website it says that it went live on the 9th of October.
"Now people only have six weeks to respond to a consultation that has huge implications for Inverclyde, and many other places around the country."
Another insider told the Telegraph: "There will be serious implications from the loss of a custody suite in Greenock because people who are arrested will have to be taken to Glasgow, meaning officers will be taken away from Inverclyde.
"Two officers are needed for every arrested person so this would mean that if two people are arrested due to a disturbance in Greenock, four officers would be away from Inverclyde for the best part of three hours, or more.
"It will also mean that people who are arrested will spend a longer time in police custody.
"Officers in Greenock are devastated by what is being proposed."
The Telegraph exclusively revealed last Monday that the Greenock station has been earmarked for closure as force bosses look to make savings.
Just days later, the national policing authority unveiled the list of properties due to be mothballed, and announced there would be a consultation.
Our story on the closure of the station was also highlighted in the Scottish Parliament.
West Scotland MSP Paul O’Kane asked Deputy First Minister Shona Robison to give a 'guarantee' that Inverclyde will have a 'proper police station' after the Rue End Street site is mothballed.
Ms Robison failed to give a detailed answer to Mr O'Kane's questions, stating that the issue of Police Scotland's estate strategy was an 'operational decision'.
She added that the Scottish Government would continue to help Police Scotland ensure it has an 'estate that's fit for purpose'.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said the October 9 date relates to when the page was created on the online platform, and not when the consultation was launched.
They also failed to answer detailed questions posed about the future of the station.
The spokesperson added: "The public consultation was launched on 14 December, the same day as locations of the buildings being proposed for closure were made public.
"The date referred to is when the page was created on the platform to allow the consultation material to be prepared and not when the consultation went live.
"Any suggestion otherwise would be inaccurate.
"Police Scotland has been clear that we need premises which are fit for policing in the 21st century and that those premises serve our officers and the community.
"We have been open and honest about that, publicly reporting it at a number of committees including the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee and the Scottish Police Authority Board since September 2023.
"While we are consulting on the disposal of Greenock Police Station, we recognise the need for a local policing service for the people of Inverclyde and a police presence in the area will continue, albeit perhaps from another site in Inverclyde yet to be determined.
"Practical matters, such as a custody provision and public counter service will naturally form part of our considerations."
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