Police offices across Courier Country will close to public

POLICE SCOTLAND has confirmed that dozens of police station front counters across Courier Country are to close next month.

AcrossTayside, there will now be no public counter provision at Auchterarder, Blairgowrie, Brechin, Carnoustie, Crieff, Kinross and Montrose.

In Dundee, only Bell Street HQ, Lochee and Downf ield will retain a counter service, with offices in Longhaugh and Maryfield closing.

In Fife, Anstruther, Auchtermuchty, Burntisland, Cardenden, Oakley and Tay Coast will shut.

Bannockburn, Bridge of Allan and Tullibody will also lose their counters.

Conf irmation of the move comes a week after approval to reduce the number of police and fire control rooms.

The opening times of public counters at police stations across Scotland now fall into five categories and despite the promise by Police Scotland to listen to the views of the public, the list of affected stations remains largely the same as one originally proposed.

Councillor Lesley Brennan, who led the council debate against public counter closures in Dundee, said: “This decision ends an important link between the police and the communities that they serve.

“Local policing is at its most efficient when bonds between the police and local communities are strengthened, not broken.”