Police control room changes ahead

DUNDEE’S police control room will soon be integrated with the control service for Inverness.

The final phase of plans by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) will see the closure of the Inverness Area Control Room (ACR) and Service Centre.

Those functions will transfer to the ACR North centre in Dundee and call handling transferred to the Police Scotland Service Centre.

A new National Database Enquiry Unit (NDEU) will also be created to be based in Inverness and Govan. Assistant Chief Constable John Hawkins said: “We are delighted that at a time when many areas of the public sector are having to reduce staff numbers, we have been able to bring in these improvements to our service while retaining jobs in Inverness and Govan.

“Every member of staff affected will be offered a position within the newly created NDEU, ensuring we retain our skilled and experienced staff who will work alongside colleagues already undertaking this role in Glasgow. If approved by the SPA board, these proposals will provide even greater resilience in the 999 and 101 call handling service we provide the public.

“For the first time since the creation of Police Scotland, the whole country will be covered by a single police command and control system making it easier for us to respond to critical and major incidents. Detailed planning has already taken place to enable us to provide the necessary level of assurance to the SPA Board.”