Proposed closure of police station met with fury

Mill Street, in the centre of Paisley, as well as Ferguslie Park station, are earmarked for the axe by Police Scotland as part of a cost-cutting review.

Councillor Andy Doig, who represents Johnstone North, Howwood, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch as an independent, said the closure of Mill Street would be a big loss to his constituents.

He added: “Police Scotland seem to be following the banks in closing all their local offices.

“I don’t see this as having a beneficial effect on the relationship between the force and the communities they serve.”

West Scotland MSP Neil Bibby, of Labour, added: “Local people are rightly asking how much longer will it take for police to arrive if they are based further away?

“There is no way we can allow these closures to happen without an adequate replacement.”

The station in Mill Street, which is the divisional HQ for Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, houses response teams, divisional management and CID officers.

Ferguslie Park has the community policing team and the alcohol and violence reduction unit.

With Greenock also proposed for closure, the only police stations covering both Renfrewshire and Inverclyde would be Johnstone and Renfrew.

Russell Findlay, justice spokesperson for the Scottish Conservatives, said: “The people of Paisley – and the officers who serve them – have every right to be angry.”

Officials at the Unison trade union, which represents civilian staff working for the police, say the proposed closures will make policing in Renfrewshire more remote.

Spokesperson David Malcolm added: “No-one seriously thinks that this is about improving services. It is a cost-cutting measure.

“It might balance books but it won’t deliver better policing. Police estate is in a mess but the way to sort that is by long-term investment, not short-term asset stripping.”

Paisley MSP George Adam said he has contacted Police Scotland to discuss the closure plans.

“I have been assured that they will not be withdrawing from Paisley,” he said. “Instead, the plan would be to move to more modern and suitable premises which will be set to serve our town for years to come.”

A total of 29 police buildings across the country have been listed at risk of closure during the current review.

Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham has denied that local policing in Renfrewshire will be adversely affected.

He said: “Our presence is not defined by buildings but by officers and staff.

“We have introduced technology that enables officers to remain in local areas.

“The locations of many buildings no longer meet modern requirements.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “While this is an operational decision, Police Scotland’s estate strategy, published in 2019, outlined plans to dispose of outdated, under-invested and under-used properties, so they could develop modern premises capable of delivering effective and efficient public services to meet the needs of people and the staff who use them.

“These plans also include disposing of properties that are no longer used or fit for purpose and the consideration of co-locations with partner organisations in modern, well-equipped accommodation.

“Such co-locations make the best use of the public sector estate and offer the opportunity for increased visibility, closer working and increased collaboration between partners.”