Politicians, community leaders and a mountain rescue chief have backed a new Press and Journal petition to keep our police call centres local.
A damning report following the M9 crash scandal has cast fresh doubt over the future of the Aberdeen and Inverness control rooms.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) has recommended keeping the centres open until there is “independent assurance” over call handling procedures.
Keep 999 Local: Sign the P&J petition
But Justice Secretary Michael Matheson rejected the suggestion that any such review could actually reverse the slated closure, raising fears that it is merely a “box ticking exercise”.
North-east MSP Lewis Macdonald said the response indicated that the closures – which have been put on hold since the initial report into the M9 crash – were a done deal.
So far, our petition has gathered support from across the north and north-east.
North-east Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone said: “I think the problems of centralisation have become clear and there is a lot to be said for a bit of local knowledge.
“We should look at every way to retain them.”
Aberdeen city council finance convener Willie Young added: “We are 110% behind this campaign.
“It’s so important that we keep as many jobs as possible in Aberdeen.”
Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson said the aim is to retain the Inverness control room if “humanly possible”.
While Willie Anderson, leader of the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, said: “From our point of view, it’s handy having police there, close to the area where incidents have taken place.
“If Inverness take a call they would know whether it’s the Cairngorm or Lochaber rescue team that was required.”
Independent MSP John Finnie, an ex policeman with 30 years’ service added: “It’s important that we have resilience and maintain a quality skills base.