BAN ON ARRESTS AMID STAFF SHORTAGE

POLICE have been told not to make any scheduled arrests in part of Lanarkshire amid warnings of staff shortages.

But officers fear a warrants backlog as they are prevented from doing their work.

It is thought the divisional HQ custody suite at Motherwell will be closed temporarily as there are insufficient officers and civilian staff to operate it. Instead, offenders will be taken to stations in Hamilton or Coatbridge.

It is understood officers will be able to arrest lawbreakers if responding to ongoing crimes. But it is feared police in the Motherwell area will feel pressure to avoid making arrests for low-level offences as it would take too long to transfer and process cases. The arrest ban was in place yesterday and will apply again today.

It comes despite Motherwell station being upgraded just four years ago as part of a £3.5million scheme to refurbish cells.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: ‘There is little point investing in a state-ofthe-art custody suite if there are not enough staff to use it.’

Superintendent Arlene Smith, head of operations at the criminal justice services division of Police Scotland, said: ‘Custody centres across Scotland are routinely open and closed dependent upon the business need and projected demand caused by major events and incidents.’