Baillieston locals voice concerns over potential police station closure

After a string of crimes in the area, people in Baillieston are telling us the thought of the local police station closing down is worrying.

Police Scotland has now concluded a public consultation on the closure of 29 stations across Scotland, which is claims are surplus to requirements.

The plans would see officers and staff being moved to other locations.

Baillieston's local station is on the list, and the community council chair, Stephen Love, has voiced concern about the future of policing within the community as officers would be redeployed from Shettleston.

He said: "There was a murder here just before Christmas, and two stabbings in a generational hotpot.

"If the community officers aren't seen to be in our local station, I worry things will get worse here.

"The facts and figures from the police make sense and I know things need to move with the times, but in terms of relationships within the community and keeping that deterrent up, you can't put that into a figure.

"We are trying to improve this area and it is a hard slog. We're trying to make it more aesthetically pleasing, set up a community hub in the area.

"Baillieston doesn't have a lot anymore, and if we take away the local police station, what deterrent do we have against vandalism?

"I don't think too many people here are happy about this."

Nothing set in stone

When asked for a response, a Police Scotland spokesperson said that no decisions about properties have been confirmed yet.

Deputy Chief Constable, Malcolm Graham said: “Our estate needs to be fit for 21st century policing, putting service enhancement, visibility, and engagement at the heart of the communities we serve.

“These are core components of the legitimacy and consent on which policing in Scotland relies.

“Our presence in communities is not defined by buildings but by the officers and staff who work there, and 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, as well as to bring partners together to deliver services in the most efficient and effective way.

“The buildings in which our officers and staff work need to be safe, functional spaces, and they need to be sustainable and adaptable enough to meet changing public expectations and the changing nature of policing.”

'Large and aging estate'

He added: “Police Scotland inherited a very large and ageing estate, much of which was not fit for purpose, with high maintenance costs and environmental inefficiencies.

“The locations of many inherited buildings no longer meet the requirements of local communities and in some cases the organisation is currently maintaining multiple buildings in the same geographic area, less than five miles apart.

“Some of the buildings are just a few miles apart, others are used by only a handful of police officers or staff and have no public access, while many are rarely visited by a member of the public.

“For the majority of properties, the proposed moves will be an average of four miles from their current location.

“Local communities will therefore continue to receive the same high level of service from officers, and still from within their local area.

“We now have more than 60 co-locations with partners, providing more sustainable, more modern, and safer workspaces for our people.

“We have great examples of successful partnerships in the North East, Perthshire, Forth Valley, and Ayrshire among others and this will continue to be an important part of ensuring policing in Scotland is prepared for the future."

A full list of the buildings at risk of closure can be found here.

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