Bang to rights on duct tape police
THE collapsed ceiling at Broughty Ferry police station is the latest example of the unacceptable conditions under which officers and staff have to operate.
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has denied infrastructure is “falling apart” but there is clearly a significant problem.
The reports of substandard buildings and vehicles just keep coming. Now we have fresh concerns voiced by one of the highest ranking officers in the country.
The Chief Superintendent for Tayside told of buildings “no longer fit for purpose” and of officers and staff who work tirelessly in “challenging conditions”.
His remarks follow our reports last year on the Scottish Police Federation’s concerns over the shocking state of police vehicles.
Some were said to be “barely legal” and “patched up with duct tape”.
A Holyrood committee concluded there should be an above-inflation increase in funding for the police estate.
The roof is literally and figuratively coming in on the force and hard cash must be found to reverse the decline.
Our police officers work hard to keep us safe. They deserve the best.
BY JAMES MONCUR j.moncur@dailyrecord.co.uk
A POLICE station was evacuated and left abandoned after a ceiling collapsed in a dining area.
Luckily no officers were hurt in the incident that happened on the same day Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf denied claims the force’s infrastructure is “falling apart”.
The cop shop in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, was closed due to the “health and safety risk” after Tuesday evening’s collapse.
Last night, Tayside Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Andrew Todd, said: “The building is not being used due to health and safety risks and won’t be until a full assessment has been carried out.
“Some buildings are no longer operationally fit for purpose, in the right place or designed in a way which allows us to work alongside partners.” He added that he was grateful to staff who worked in challenging conditions.
The Daily Record has reported officers complaining of ripped car seats, broken seatbelts and dripping pipes in other stations including Oban.
Yousaf was yesterday criticised for rubbishing claims that police stations are “falling apart”.
Labour MSP James Kelly asked: “Does the Cabinet Secretary accept that it’s completely unacceptable that some of our police stations are falling apart? And what action will be taken in the Budget to ensure that we’ve a police estate that’s fit for purpose?”
Yousaf said that “hyperbole by describing police stations as falling apart is unhelpful”.
The Scottish Government said: “We expect Police Scotland to carry out the necessary health and safety checks at Broughty Ferry police station in a timely way and expect that they will continue to ensure that in all cases the focus will remain on a ‘health and safety first’ approach for all officers, staff and the public.”