Proposed closure of 15 police stations to go ahead

Northern Constabulary said the closures would not have an impact on policing and officers will still be available in the communities. The decision was agreed at a meeting by the Northern Joint Police Board in Inverness.

The closures were first considered as part of "efficiency measures" at a board meeting in November. The 15 stations are at Scalloway and Dunrossness on Shetland, Stromness on Orkney, Barvas, Carloway, Ness and Tarbert on the Western Isles and Broadford on Skye. Bettyhill, Lybster, Evanton, Cromarty, Spean Bridge, Drumnadrochit and Ardersier will also be shut.

The meeting heard potential savings were estimated at 245,117.

A spokesman for the Scottish Police Federation Northern Branch said: "It was unfortunate but inevitable that measures such as station closures were necessary."