WATCH: Inverness police control room could shut in August
Officials meeting next week over looming controversial closure.
Last updated 2nd Jun 2017
"We're doing as much as we can to make sure that local knowledge is passed to the control room down in Dundee" POLICE SCOTLAND
The Inverness police control room where 999-calls are currently answered, could be replaced by call-handlers in Dundee from the last week of August.
A meeting of the Scottish Police Authority will take place next week for an update, and that could lead to a final decision being made in August.
It's been on hold since shortcomings in the police response to a fatal crash in Stirling almost 2-years-ago, which killed 25-year-old mum of two, Lamara Bell, and her 28-year-old boyfriend John Yuill.
Policing is a matter devolved to the Scottish Government which has been pursuing a controversial centralisation programme of control room closures in the North, which has also affected the fire service.
MFR News asked Chief Superintendent George MacDonald whether there's a risk of losing valuable local knowledge in the move.
The Highlands' new police boss replied: "We're doing as much as we possibly can to make sure that that knowledge is passed to the control room down in Dundee. It's been going on so that we can protect that local knowledge as best as we possibly can."
Aberdeen lost its control room in April.
The senior officer added: "Having gone through that in the North East of Scotland where we've seen the control room move down to Dundee, and the knowledge that I've gained in the North East will be very useful to bring that here, and I see that as a positive.
"Ultimately we want to maintain high levels of service to the communities of the Highlands, and regardless of some of the large organisational changes, the commitment from me and my staff is that we will maintain as best as possible service as we can."