Police attack loss of local controllers

RANK-and-file officers have warned of flaws in police call centres and said the problems could worsen following the move to a single force.

They say 999 response centres have started to resemble corporate control centres, with a tick box approach sometimes replacing local knowledge.

Officers believe that, since the start of centralisation of control centres in 2005, local knowledge has been lost, impacting on the support they receive and the service the public gets.

They fear a single police force might bring a single national call centre in a bid to cut costs.

Instead, they would like smaller community-based control rooms, with people who know the areas and their problems.

The motion – set to go before the Scottish Police Federation conference today – says: “The current structures have not delivered the projected improvements for police or officers.

“Structures traditionally were locally based, providing direct local accountability and knowledge, delivered by local police and civilian controllers.

“The current structures are failing to respond to operational needs. Push-button technical operation of the handset is now held at higher regard than officer safety.”