Crime writer on the case as Leith is prime suspect for closure

Ian Rankin has prompted a backlash against police station closures after revealing one of the threatened buildings is the setting of his new novel.

Police Scotland has drawn up a list of buildings in 58 locations which could be closed as part of a review.

Rankin tweeted yesterday that one of the police stations, in Leith, is the setting for his latest novel which was published last week.

Tweeting a link to reports of the proposed closures, he wrote: “Including the one in Leith, setting for Rather Be The Devil ...”

Barbara Munt tweeted back: “Your next book will have to be – Someone was murdered in Edinburgh today; cops from Bognor Regis are expected to arrive on Friday!”

Kate Potts asked: “Where does an elderly person who needs help go when they close all these stations?”

Another bemoaned the lack of consultation with the public, writing: “First we’ve heard about it! #leithpolis”.

However, some users suggested that they were not too upset by the announcement.

George Wallis wrote: “Time moves on. Given the choice I’d have rather kept the post offices, but we didn’t get that option.”

The information about the closure of the stations was only revealed in response to a freedom of information request.

There have been accusations that local residents have been kept in the dark about the potential closure of the stations.

Last month, Conservative MSP Oliver Mundell said he only learned about the threat to eight police stations in his Dumfries and Galloway constituency when he was told by a constituent.

He said: “A local resident in my constituency found out by asking a surveyor at a local police station what they were doing.

“They were there surveying to find out how much it was worth.”

Ian Rankin refers to Leith in his new novel.