3. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the proposed closure of Paisley, Ferguslie Park, Greenock, Bishopbriggs and Milngavie police stations. (S6O-02936)

Through the delivery of its estate strategy, Police Scotland is putting plans in place to modernise its estate to make it fit for purpose. We are supportive of plans to co-locate with other parts of the public sector, including local authorities, which promotes closer working and collaboration, delivering better outcomes for individuals and communities.

I agree with the deputy chief constable Malcolm Graham, who said that the presence of policing in communities

“is not defined by buildings but by the officers and staff who work there”.

I encourage anyone with an interest to respond to the consultation that is available on the Police Scotland website.

It is important that the Scottish Government does not wash its hands of the issue or say that it is only an operational matter when my constituents in

Paisley, Greenock, Ferguslie Park, Milngavie and Bishopbriggs are extremely concerned about the possible closures of their local police stations.

What financial support will the Government provide to protect local stations if the police and public deem them necessary? Where the police have indicated that they support a replacement presence, for example in Paisley and in Greenock, where they are located in town centres, are open 24 hours a day, have criminal investigation departments and—as in the case of Greenock—have a custody suite, does the cabinet secretary agree that any replacement should be made on a like-for-like basis?

I recognise that, in some instances, people feel very strongly about the police estate and about police buildings in their local communities, hence the consultation. However, as we move forward, it is crucial that we have modern and fit-for-purpose facilities and that we bear in mind that police officers tend to be mobile in their work.

Regarding Mr Bibby’s locality, it is important to recognise that there is a consultation and that Police Scotland is taking part in discussions with Renfrewshire Council about co-location and about identifying appropriate community engagement facilities. The consultation is about using co-location to enhance the effectiveness of policing and to enhance local partnership working, as well as to improve the visibility and presence of policing in our communities.

As the cabinet secretary says, Police Scotland has said that the selection of properties for possible disposal under the service’s estate strategy is part of a move towards co-location with partners, where that is possible, and to ensure that services are delivered in the most efficient and effective way. Will the cabinet secretary provide further detail of the success that has already come from co-location?

We all agree that we want our public services to be effective and efficient. Co-location with suitable partners makes the best use of the public sector estate and offers the opportunity for increased visibility and closer working.

There are more than 60 examples of successful co-location across the Police Scotland estate—which is around 20 per cent of that estate—and 13 of those co-locations are blue light collaborations. There is a great example of that in my constituency in West Lothian, and there are also examples of co-location in Alloa with Clackmannanshire Council, in Aberdeen with the city council and in Inverness with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.

It is important to recognise that, in its pre-budget scrutiny report at the end of last year, the Criminal Justice Committee said that the police and fire services

“should explore the provision of newer co-located premises which offer improved facilities for officers, firefighters and staff”.