An influential Aberdeen City Council committee has rejected plans to merge north-east police divisions.
Local police commander Adrian Watson yesterday told councillors there is a strong case for amalgamating the city operation with neighbouring Aberdeenshire and Moray.
The force launched a consultation on the proposals last year, and are now seeking the backing of local authorities across the region.
Mr Watson told elected members on the communities, housing and infrastructure committee that the service could be “leaner and more agile” by stopping duplication of work.
He said: “The main driver is efficiency and effectiveness. There is a division in the north-east, that was a decision by the previous administration in the legacy force.
“We are two years in (to Police Scotland) and it is very clear to us, both in-house and across the partnership, that we can probably make more of what we have as one.”
Committee convener Neil Cooney said the force was being “starved to death” by cuts imposed by central government. Police Scotland has to meet savings of £1.6billion by 2026.
Mr Cooney said: “We need to provide feedback to the Scottish Police Authority that we welcome efficiency savings but we would prefer the status quo for the divisional organisation.
“I feel very strongly about that.”
The SNP group tabled an amendment to back the merger proposals.
Councillor Gordon Townson said Mr Watson was facing up to “reality” and that the north-east area division could be run more efficiently.
Nationalist group leader Callum McCaig added: “There is no person in this area or anywhere else that would prioritise chiefs over indians.”
However, Mr Watson was unable to give a guarantee, when asked by Labour councillor Willie Young, if the base for the local force would remain in Aberdeen.
Mr Young said he was looking for certainty that the Queen Street HQ would not be sold off.
He added: “We are worried about the asset stripping in Aberdeen by the Scottish Government. We no longer have a prison, are we now going to lose our police HQ?”
Labour councillor Barney Crockett added: “We risk being bled dry in this city in terms of our resources.”
The committee voted 12-7 to reject the proposals and instruct the Scottish Police Authority that Aberdeen City Council would like to see the status quo remain.
Liberal Democrat and Conservative committee members backed the Labour motion.