POLICE BASE COULD OPEN NEXT MONTH
June is ‘target date’ for switch
Work to create a new base for police officers in Crieff could be completed as early as next month, a highranking officer has revealed.
Police Scotland has set an initial “target date” in June for its move from the existing station in King Street to 32 James Square.
The switch will see officers with the nationwide force ‘colocate’ with staff from Perth and Kinross Council.
Chief Inspector Graham Binnie is the police’s local area commander for Perth and Kinross and confirmed work on the project would commence in “the near future”.
He said: “The target date for completion is June, 2021, although this will be subject to change.
“While the existing station at Crieff has been a fixture in the town for many years, the building is no longer fit for purpose for modern policing.
“However, the new premises will maintain the police presence in the town centre and provide all the services currently available with the advantage of being colocated with a key partner agency.
“As the project progresses further updates will be provided.”
Police Scotland has set an initial “target date” in June for its move from the existing station in King Street to 32 James Square.
The switch will see officers with the nationwide force ‘co-locate’ with staff from Perth and Kinross Council.
Chief Inspector Graham Binnie is the police’s local area commander for Perth and Kinross.
He said: “It has now been confirmed that work on this project will commence in the near future to adapt the building to accommodate the new police station.
“The target date for completion is June, 2021, although this will be subject to change.
“While the existing station at Crieff has been a fixture in the town for many years, the building is no longer fit for purpose for modern policing.
“However, the new premises will maintain the police presence in the town centre and provide all the services currently available with the advantage of being co-located with a key partner agency.
“As the project progresses further updates will be provided and, once the opening date is confirmed, this will be widely circulated for public awareness.”
A deadline of September 30 last year was set for people to air their views on the proposals.
A consultation document published at the time said moving to the James Square office would mean the police would “no longer have an operational requirement to retain Crieff Station, and it is only right we consider its potential disposal.”
The mooted move broadly found favour with elected members, with several – as well as groups such as Crieff Community Council – stating their primary concern was to ensure a continued police presence in the town.
The public counter at the current Strath capital law enforcement hub was closed to the public in February, 2014, following a previous Police Scotland review.
CI Binnie said anyone with any queries in relation to the move should contact Inspector Craig Stephen, based at Kinross Police Station.
For more information, send an email to taysidestrathearncpt@scotland.pnn.police.uk