WATCH: Peterhead's new Police station officially opened
Officers have moved in next to Aberdeenshire Council colleagues at Buchan House in the town centre
Peterhead's new Police station has officially opened.
A purpose built extension was added on to Aberdeenshire Council's Buchan House base in the town centre to house officers.
They moved in last August, but due to the pandemic hadn't been able to formally open the building until now.
Working alongside colleagues from the Council will allow both authorities to work in collaboration.
The extension itself cost £1.5 Million and also allows collaborative work with representatives from the Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership, who are also based at Buchan House.
Hosting the event, Provost Howatson said: “The pandemic may have delayed our opportunity to formally mark the completion of this important project but that doesn’t make it any less worthy of celebration.
“I’m pleased to see how well Aberdeenshire Council and Police Scotland have been working together in the building to ensure continued access to services and wish everybody all the best for the future.”
From the Police Scotland perspective, Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: "Local policing lies at the heart of Police Scotland's purpose and identity. A local, responsive and accessible service is key to policing's strong bond with our fellow citizens. Sharing fit for purpose buildings with other agencies can enable us all to meet the changing needs and requirements of our communities, delivering value to the public.
"Buchan House is an important example of these principles and I'm grateful to Aberdeenshire Council and officers and staff within our North East (A) Division and across Police Scotland for working together for the benefit of the public we serve."
Chief Superintendent George Macdonald added: "The old station at Merchant Street was a well-known base for our officers but it was no longer fit for purpose and by moving to Buchan House, we can better serve the community and provide fit for purpose accommodation for our people.
"Community based policing is very much still at the heart of what we do and being co-located with colleagues from Aberdeenshire Council allows us to build on the already strong links we have. The public will also benefit from local service providers working together in one location."