SEVERAL police stations across Scotland are at risk of closure with the force under pressure to plug the budget gap.
Cops say that 29 buildings could be sold off, including offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
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Officers and staff based at the stations would be moved to other locations.
Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said many of the inherited buildings “no longer meet the requirements of local communities”, the BBC reports.
And buildings need to be “safe, functional spaces” that are adaptable enough to meet changing public expectations.
Fourteen of the 29 stations at risk don’t have public access.
A further 16 empty or unused buildings are currently under review.
The force said that financial savings from the property sales would be re-invested into providing police services.
DCC Graham said: “The locations of many inherited buildings no longer meet the requirements of local communities and in some cases the organisation is currently maintaining multiple buildings in the same area.
“Some of the buildings are just a few miles apart, others are used by only a handful of police officers or staff and have no public access.”
Full list of police stations at risk of closing down:
Glasgow and West
- Castlemilk
- Saracen
- Bishopbriggs
- Milngavie
- Stewart Street
- Gorbals
- Baillieston
- Pacific Quay
- Paisley
- Ferguslie Park
- Greenock
- Dumbarton
- Alexandria
- Ayr
Edinburgh and Fife
- Balerno
- Fettes, Leith
- West End
- Portobello
- Oakley
Tayside
- Dundee Annexe
- Ryehill
- Hilltown
Highlands and North East
- Muir of Ord
- Mastrick
- Rosemount
- Seaton
- Whinhill
- Torry
Officers and staff in Greater Glasgow, Tayside, parts of the North East and the Highlands would be redeployed elsewhere in the area following a closure.
The rest of Scotland, including Edinburgh, there is currently no suggested destination for officers if buildings are shut.
However, workers would not move more than four miles away from their current place of work.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Russell Findlay said: “The SNP government has presided over the closure of 140 police buildings in the first decade of Police Scotland.
“The announcement that 59 more might be forced to shut down will devastate over-stretched officers and put communities at even greater risk.”
Scottish Labour Justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: “This is yet another hammer-blow to Police Scotland’s resources due to chronic underfunding by the SNP government.
“With offices closing and jobs on the line, the need for action to protect police services could not be greater.
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“Police visibility in our communities is vital in tackling crime as well as preventing crime and making people feel safe – we can’t allow cuts to undermine confidence in services.
“Action needs to be taken now to prevent further cuts to jobs and services and to help Scotland’s police keep Scots safe.”