How will the cuts affect policing in the Highlands and Islands?

Why do you need to make such extensive cuts?
The cuts are not of our making - the whole of the public sector is facing unprecedented cuts. The exact scale of the cuts was not fully known until after November 2010, however the Force had been preparing for these, working to the planning assumptions agreed by ACPOS, based on guidance from Scottish Government Officials. Initial indications estimated budget cuts across the next four years amounting to 9%, 5%, 5% and 5%.

The cuts announced in the Scottish Government budget on 17 November, indicated a reduction in police budgets in the region of 2.6% for 2011-12. Taking current inflation figures of around 3% into account, this meant a budget cut of just under 6% for 2011-12. The full implications became clearer over the weeks following the budget announcement.

The huge amount of work put into the plans and proposals to manage the anticipated cuts was immensely valuable in ensuring we were well positioned to quickly respond to and manage a reduction of around 6% in our budget. Whilst this is not as deep a cut as anticipated, it is still a very significant figure equating to the need to identify savings of around £3 million. This is a scale of cuts which has not been seen in modern times and means we have to plan for cash cuts to balance the budget for 2011/12 and onwards.

How did you identify the 16 police stations for closure?
A significant amount of research and consultation across the Force and with partners went into developing the range of proposals put forward. Modelling was done in researching current usage of police stations, facts and statistics, logistics, risk assessments and budget forecasting etc, in order to draw up the proposals in consultation with local officers.

In many cases officers were already being briefed and dispatched from larger premises nearby, and these smaller stations had to a significant extent been standing empty. Where there is a choice between funding of an empty building or funding visible, well equipped and mobile officers, the Force aims to prioritise visible policing and appropriate targeting of resources. Putting that money into police officers, rather than empty buildings, means that resources can be targeted to meet local community needs and priorities through visible policing.

Where station closures are agreed, alternative methods of delivering services have been identified or explored with partner agencies to maintain and in some instances enhance current levels of visibility at these locations.

What impact will police station closures have on communities? What differences will people see?
Such an unprecedented cut in public sector budgets will have an impact. However, we aim to achieve savings and efficiencies which will allow the Force to maintain Police Officer numbers at the highest possible level and continue to provide visible, localised policing services across the Highlands and Islands area.

Where police stations close, a counter service may be provided in a different way, for example, through shared front counter initiatives. The emphasis will always be on providing a visible police presence in communities and if people need a police response they will still have this. Retaining all the stations would mean that greater cuts in officer numbers would have to be made. Current usage does not justify this.

Where will these front counter initiatives be? Will local authorities be moving counter services into police stations?
Discussions with local authorities are continuing as to where shared counter initiatives may be viable. These could be very positive in providing sustainable solutions for local communities.

What levels of service will be reduced? Which station will have reduced opening hours?
Divisional Headquarters buildings at Wick, Dingwall and Inverness will retain a 24 hour reception facility, together with Fort William Police Station and the island stations at Lerwick and Stornoway. Analysis has shown that very few people utilise police station receptions outwith the hours of 8am to 8pm. The front counter service at 8 police stations (Kirkwall, Thurso, Alness, Portree, Aviemore, Nairn, Dornoch and Tain) will have reduced reception hours.

What will people do if they need the police outwith these opening hours or in places there is no longer a police station?
Police will still maintain a visible presence in communities and where there are no police stations, they may be working out of shared premises or on mobile patrols.

We will encourage people to contact us during opening hours where they have a routine enquiry. However, if at any time people require a police response, that response will still be provided.

People can still dial 999 in an emergency and for non-emergencies can still contact police on a 24 hour basis by telephoning their nearest police station. Telephones will also be made available outside police stations which have reduced reception hours.

Northern Constabulary is committed to a community model of policing which understands the needs of its communities across the Highlands and Islands and seeks to maintain the highest levels of frontline policing, and give the best possible, high quality and effective service within the available funding.

Would it not be better to cut headquarters costs than close local police stations?
The Force Review has already substantially cut police support numbers and redesigned functions in order to put more resources into the Divisions – this is the main reason we achieved a growth in police officer numbers from 650 to 800. This has enabled better visibility in communities and more flexibility in targeting resources where they are required. Support functions are vital to enable frontline policing and the Force is already extremely efficient and effective. For example, there are only one and a half posts to provide payroll across the Force, a figure we believe is unmatched in the rest of the UK.

Media reports suggesting a figure of 25% for HQ costs for the police service in Scotland is misleading. For Northern Constabulary, the figure for Administrative functions at HQ is 14%. Remember, many operational units such as Public Protection, Major Crime Unit, Special Branch, Road Policing, Firearms & Search teams are based at HQ, but provide a frontline response. This also includes the Force Operations Centre, which handles all emergency and most of the non emergency calls. HQ also hosts statistic and report gathering, complaint handling and Freedom of Information requests for the Force.

A significant amount of research and consultation across the Force and with partners went into developing the range of proposals put forward.

How much money will be saved by the closures?
It is estimated that the closure of 16 stations could potentially give the following savings:

• Capital savings: £2,070,000
• Revenue savings: £245,117(running costs)

How many staff will be affected by police station closures?
Only a small number of staff are affected. Where possible staff will be moved to other roles, although this is not going to be possible in every instance. In these cases a small number of redundancies have been agreed.

If a town loses its police station does that mean it loses its local bobby on the beat?
No. Our aim is to keep officers visible in our communities. If the choice is to keep an empty building or a visible, well equipped and trained officer on patrol then we will chose the officer option.

What other measures are being considered to balance the budget?
The above actions are part of a number of measures which will allow the force to address the projected budget shortfall. They will go some way towards contributing to this efficiency programme, but a wide range of other measures are also required to balance the budget. These unfortunately include reductions in police staff and police officers, as 85% of our budget is in people.

The Board agreed a voluntary redundancy programme and a number of Police Staff have taken up this offer. The Force has in place a Redundancy Policy which makes it clear that we always explore alternatives to compulsory redundancy. The Board has however had to agree redundancies for a small number of part-time staff whose jobs are affected by the programme of police station closures.

The Force is seeking to minimise any impact on police officer numbers in order to maintain as high a number of officers as possible for the coming year. Police Officers cannot be made redundant, and there no need to implement Regulation 19 (Compulsory Retirement on grounds of efficiency of the force) as the Board has agreed the full package of proposed cuts for 2011-12.

Will police officers be taken away from frontline policing to do support staff work?
Only as a last resort. We are seeking to minimise the impact by streamlining our functions and developing more effective ways of working, so that we protect frontline policing and maintain minimum numbers of support staff.