A public consultation must be held into proposals to close police station counter services before a final decision is made, MSPs said last night.
The Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and the SNP said communities across the north and north-east must be asked for their views on the potential loss of face-to-face contact with civilian staff.
Police Scotland has proposed that front desks at Bucksburn in Aberdeen and at stations in Aboyne, Portsoy, Fochabers, Glencoe, Dornoch, Stromness, Ullapool, Benbecula and Mallaig be closed as part of a cost-cutting exercise to save £1.7billion.
The force is also planning to change the opening hours of other stations in Grampian and the Highlands and islands.
There are 13 police stations in the former Northern Constabulary area which have counter services, 22 in Aberdeenshire and Moray and two in Aberdeen.
Staff deal with a variety of queries such as firearms licences, bail registration, vehicle seizures and lost property.
The police say the number of visitors to offices has fallen in recent years because of the increased use of the telephone, internet or social media to make contact with offices.
North-east Lib Dem MSP Alison McInnes said: “It is paramount that any communities that will be affected by the reduction in police station public service hours are consulted on the full recommendations.”
Scottish Conservative justice spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell added: “A decision of this magnitude has to have the full input of the public and expert groups.”
North-east Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said: “These are significant changes and I hope the public and staff will be consulted before making any final decisions.”
Richard Baker, also a north-east Labour MSP, added: “It is crucial that the public in these affected communities are properly consulted.”
Moray SNP MSP Richard Lochhead, Scotland’s rural affairs secretary, said the police must explain to the public why the station in Fochabers should be closed to the public.
“Most people understand that, if you want to contact the police, you generally use the phone,” he added.
“It is really important that Police Scotland put in the public domain as soon as possible the case for proposing Fochabers for closure.
“I know my constituents’ first priority is bobbies on the beat and if it is a case that is part of the reason for closing the office, we need to hear that from the police.”