Inverclyde councillors demand to be involved in station closure plans

Members of the district's Police Scrutiny Panel - who are set to grill senior officers at an emergency meeting tomorrow morning - have strongly criticised a 'lack of transparency' from top brass and say they cannot now adequately assess the impact of what is being proposed.

In official papers released ahead of the meeting, councillors say they 'have not been provided with sufficient information' on options for the closure-threatened station and an 'alternative policing model' for Inverclyde.

They have also demanded to be involved in the decision making process and insist that Police Scotland must re-evaluate the overall plan. 

The scrutiny panel says that only by being engaged in the decisions can they 'fulfil our role in representing the community and ensure a thorough and transparent process'. 

The council papers state that the closure of the station could 'potentially impact the effectiveness of local law enforcement'. 

The panel adds: "Reassessing the viability of including a custody suite or exploring alternative solutions that maintain operational efficiency and prioritise public safety, is paramount. 

"Ignoring these concerns and proceeding with the current proposal without fully engaging on more detailed alternative plans would be a serious error with detrimental consequences for the community."

Members of the panel say that losing the custody suite from Inverclyde would present significant logistical issues. 

The council papers state: "Timely and secure detentions become compromised, forcing the transport of arrested individuals elsewhere. 

"This increases risks, lengthens response times, and strains resources throughout the system."

Councillors also say there could be concerns about detainee welfare and 'adherence to due process' when cases aren't processed locally. 

Panel members say that 'valuable synergies' between investigative units and the custody suite would disappear if the station closes. 

They add: "Investigations become disjointed and communication channels fragment. 

"This hampers information flow, potentially putting case outcomes at risk and ultimately impacting public safety.

"The potential consequences reach far beyond mere inconvenience, potentially compromising the safety of officers, detainees, and the community as a whole."

Former Inverclyde police chief Debbie Reilly said the response from the panel is an 'excellent paper with recurring themes and unequivocal language'. 

The retired superintendent said: "I feel reassured that our scrutiny panel have (rightly) asked some serious direct questions.

"Inverclyde is a very strong and proud community. 

"Any attempts to diminish the policing capacity here using strategic flimflam and without due deference to the public will be met with an appropriate response. 

"Public trust and confidence is critical."

Ms Reilly has backed the Telegraph's Protect Our Policing campaign which calls for a retention of all current policing levels in Inverclyde when station closes, a permanent custody suite and public-facing front counter open 24 hours every day. 

Police Scotland has said that the Rue End Street facility, which opened in 1975, is 'no longer fit for purpose, and is no longer affordable to operate and maintain'. 

The force has stated: "If financial resource was available, we would propose to direct that investment into a new Greenock police station and not into a building which is now aged, deteriorating, no longer fit for purpose, costly to maintain and located in isolation from our partners."

They have asserted that if the closure goes ahead, there will be 'no change' to the current levels of police presence in Inverclyde, or to the number of current operational officers in the area. 

Police Scotland has also said a public front counter would be 'replicated' at a new site, and says it is 'currently reviewing' custody options, asserting that staff will not leave the Greenock station until a new location is confirmed.

Members of the police scrutiny panel say the current station serves as a 'central hub for public engagement', as it's located in the town centre and is readily accessible. 

They add: "Greenock police station serves as a vital contributor to the community, offering security, engagement, accessibility, and efficient handling of arrests through its integrated custody suite. 

"Though not officially designated as a 'safe space, the station does convey a sense of security.

"This accessibility fosters a sense of openness and encourages frequent community interaction, and contributes to a stronger police-community connection."

You can access the Telegraph's campaign petition here.