Two police counters in the north and north-east have been given a reprieve.
Senior officers have decided not to close the front counter in Stromness and to extend the opening hours at Banchory.
The decision follows a consultation in which there was widespread opposition to the police’s cost-saving measures.
The move was dismissed as a “small concession” as dozens of police counters still face the axe. A paper from Chief Constable Sir Stephen House to yesterday’s Scottish Police Authority (SPA) board meeting said changes to original proposals for five stations had been “agreed in principle” by senior management.
The public counter at Banchory police station, which was to be open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, will now be open 8am-6pm seven days a week.
Stromness public counter, which was earmarked for closure, will become a “shared service provision” manned by the police 50% of the time as part of the Pierhead multi-agency development.
Dumbarton will also have its hours extended, while South Queensferry and Linlithgow, which were to close their doors to the public, will remain open.
Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman, North-east MSP Alison McInnes, said: “These proposals are small concessions.
“It remains the case that 62 stations across Scotland will close their doors to the public. Thousands of hours of front desk provision will be lost across many communities.
“These latest proposals will still see the loss of 52 hours a week of front desk provision.”
North-east Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said he was glad the decision to extend the hours at Banchory reflected local opinion, but services in towns like Inverurie and Peterhead were still threatened.
Liam McArthur, Liberal Democrat MSP for Orkney, said an agreement had been reached between the former Northern Constabulary and the islands’ council to ensure access to the police counter service in Orkney.
“Community policing in Orkney works well, but relies on the accessibility of police officers and staff,” he said.
“With the threat to police counter services in Stromness now lifted, hopefully that good track record can be maintained.”
Sir Stephen’s report said consultation responses were still being analysed and would be considered in relation to other counter proposals.