Moving Crieff police station will provide a “better facility with better access”.
That was the assessment of local inspector, Iain Ward, when he spoke to the Herald on Tuesday about proposals to shut the existing King Street base and relocate to the Strathearn Community Campus.
Keen to stress that although discussions with Perth and Kinross Council were in an “advanced” stage nothing has been finalised, Insp Ward explained: “There will be no reduction in service - either in number of police or hours that they work.
“All we are doing is relocating, which we feel will increase our presence.”
Insp Ward added that current footfall through the King Street office was “sometimes single figures a week”, the move to the campus would mean that the more than 1000 daily visitors to the building would have access to officers.
Residents have been invited to give their opinions on the plans via the Tayside Police website, www.tayside.police.uk, and already people are making views known.
“I want to hear what the public has got to say.
“One question we get is about safety if we take prisoners to the campus. This won’t happen.
“We have to take every prisoner to Perth to the bespoke suite.
“Also, the safety of having vehicles at the campus when we respond to emergency calls.
“The number of grade one calls - where officers use their blue lights and sirens - is small, compared to grade two to four, which are less of an emergency.
“We will have parking spaces right next to the exit, so that if we do need to respond quickly, we won’t need to go through the car park.”
The Herald saw the proposed plans for the police’s space at the campus.
The force would be given rooms
at the rear of the library, including meeting rooms and a staff area, which would be converted to house locker space, an office, reception area, interview room and a tea break room. Access to the office would be via a close at the side of the building.
A drop in session has been arranged as part of the consultation process, where plans can be viewed and there will be an chance to speak with Inspector Ward and senior staff from the campus.
This meeting will be held on Thursday, November 8, between 2pm and 7pm.
