Watchdog says police call-handling centres could still do better

police call centres have ‘stabilised’ their performance but still face issues with staff training and iT investment, according to a watchdog.

A review of police Scotland’s 999 and 101 call-handling system was launched in 2015 after the deaths of John Yuill and lamara Bell, who lay undiscovered for days after a crash on the M9 despite calls to police.

it reported weaknesses in the force’s approach to implementing its new national call-handling system, which has seen a number of control rooms closed.

in an update on the outcomes of the 2015 review, Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary in Scotland (HMicS) said yesterday it had found improvements in staff morale and confidence.

But Miss Bell’s father Andrew described the latest report as a ‘whitewash’. Mr Bell, 52, from camelon, Falkirk, said: ‘When you phone the emergency number now, it

‘I worry that it makes mistakes more likely’

goes through to somewhere miles from here that doesn’t know anything about the local community. i worry that it makes mistakes more likely.’

The report comes less than a fortnight after police Scotland was castigated for call-centre blunders that delayed finding a father despite emergency calls from his family. Barry croal, 51, was found dead two days after police were first alerted to his disappearance.

Gillian imery, HM chief inspector of constabulary, said yesterday that all 30 recommendations in its 2015 review have since been implemented or are no longer relevant. But she made eight further recommendations regarding iT investment, the need for a ‘public contact strategy’ and a procedure manual for the force’s contact, command and control division.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson welcomed the report but said: ‘There is no room for complacency.’