Strong case remains for Inverness control room reprieve – OIC

But the council is disappointed that a review by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) has recommended that the closure should still take place.

The OIC has opposed the move since the proposals were first announced, arguing that the control room staff’s expert knowledge of the Highlands and Islands plays a vital role in saving lives.

The closure was put on hold following the delayed police response to a fatal car accident on the A9, pending a national review by HMICS of the way calls to police in Scotland are handled.

HMICS has now recommended that the “reform programme” for police control centres in Scotland is completed as planned.

But it has said that the Inverness facility should remain open until a new area control room in Dundee is fully operational and a number of other measures are put in place.

The Scottish Government has agreed to this and will support the retention of staff at the Inverness control room beyond the end of March next year “to allow for an effective handover of operations”.

Councillor Andrew Drever, chairman of the OIC’s police and fire sub-committee, said: “We welcome the outcome of the review in that the Inverness control room will remain open for longer than originally planned.

“But we are disappointed that this is a further postponement rather than a reprieve. The Inverness control room team has a wealth of local knowledge. I fear that losing this will lead to delayed responses to emergencies in our community and potentially to loss of life.”

OIC convener Steven Heddle added: “To save lives you need to get the right resources to the right place as promptly as possible. That can be put at risk unless you have expert understanding and awareness of the geography, dialect, and duplication of place names throughout the Highlands and Islands.

“The case to retain the Inverness control room long term remains as strong as ever.”