PROPOSALS FOR NEW SUPPORT TEAM IN GOVAN Bid to create police unit to help frontline officers
Crime Reporter A NEW Police Scotland unit which will help frontline officers could be created and operated in Govan – if plans are approved by the Scottish Police Authority.
Proposals for the creation of a National Database Enquiry Unit (NDEU) will be discussed when the Scottish Police Authority meet in Inverness tomorrow.
The creation of the NDEU will support operational policing by undertaking live time database checks for frontline officers across the country 24 hours a day.
Police Scotland say that between 1600 and 2200 such inquiries are conducted each day across the country with 50 per cent of this originating in the west.
The NDEU would also be based in Inverness if the plans go ahead with the Govan office handling incidents in the West of Scotland.
Govan already, however, has an existing unit which performs a similar role known as the PNC.
The PNC has been in place since 2011 with staff who have a wealth of experience assisting the West region and E division.
Under the new proposals staff working within the NDEU will take on the demand for checks currently placed on area control rooms, enabling controllers to concentrate on the management of police incidents.
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 are able to bring in these improvements to our service whilst 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.”
He added: “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.”
Plans will also be put forward which will will see the closure of the Inverness Area Control Room (ACR) and Service Centre, with the transfer of ACR functions to the ACR North in Dundee and call handling transferred to the Police Scotland Service Centre (PSSC).
ACC Hawkins said: “Detailed planning has already taken place to enable us to provide the necessary level of assurance to the SPA Board. A significant number of milestones have already been achieved including increased ICT stability, independent assurance by industry experts of our staffing numbers, and the successful integration of our three service centre sites across Bilston Glen, Motherwell and Govan where 999 and 101 calls are answered by the first available Service Advisor.
“Additionally, the programme has been subject of significant independent assurance by Scottish Government and HMICS.”