The Chief Constable of Police Scotland yesterday said the opening of a new police station in the Highlands demonstrated the force’s commitment to local policing.
Sir Stephen House also described the new facility at Fort William, which also accommodates the Lochaber town’s ambulance station, as a “shining example” of the police and ambulance service working together.
His comments were made when he officially opened the £4.3million building at Blar Mor with Scottish Ambulance Service chairman David Garbutt.
The new police station will be open from 7am to midnight seven days a week.
The chief constable yesterday pointed out that this was one of five new facilities being opened by the force in the north of Scotland over the next three months.
He said: “People want to see police locally. That’s what we are doing and will continue to do.”
He added that the force, in common with other public bodies, had to make some difficult decisions, but the considered the new police station at Fort William to be a “wise investment”.
Sir Stephen said: “The foundations of Police Scotland are built on strong local policing, which serves the public and is connected to communities across the country, from the most urban of environments to the most rural.
“Building and maintaining a visible local policing presence in communities across Highland and Islands is critical to how we keep people safe.”
He added that, where possible, they wanted to work closely with their emergency service partners.
Mr Garbutt said the original Fort William station had five members of staff, whereas now there are 26 ambulance staff.
He said: “We have worked closely with Police Scotland to create a purpose-built facility that meets the needs of the Scottish Ambulance Service, providing a modern, fit for purpose, work environment for ambulance staff.
“The new facility, will house up to three emergency ambulances, along with three patient transport vehicles, all operating from the one facility.
“Every year, ambulance staff in Fort William respond to over 1,000 emergencies, undertake around 500 inter-hospital transfers to Glasgow and Edinburgh and transport more than 3,000 patients to and from hospital appointments.”