Vital 999 operators have been left in limbo yet again after Police Scotland decided to delay controversial call centre closures in Aberdeen and Inverness for the fourth time.
Pressure is mounting on the force to rethink the move, which would mean emergency calls from north and north-east being answered in the central belt.
Local politicians branded the announcement “extremely damaging” and claimed it would “undermine” public confidence in the force.
The closures in Aberdeen will now take place in March 2017, with closures in Inverness to follow in June. The force said it was “confident” the new timescale was achievable – but would not guarantee it.
Staff were previously told the facilities would shut by October.
The Press and Journal recently revealed an “alarming” decrease in the number of people working in the Aberdeen control room and Bucksburn service centre.
Call centre closures have come under increased scrutiny after the M9 tragedy in 2015, when John Yuill and partner Lamara Bell were left in their wrecked vehicle for three days – despite the accident being called-in to police by a member of the public.
North-east Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said last night: “When police control room and service centre closures were first announced two years ago, staff were given a timetable for the closures to be carried out.
“This announcement makes the fourth separate timetable published in that time.
“Surely now it is time for ministers to stop and think again before this damage becomes irreversible.”
Alexander Burnett, Scottish Conservative MSP for Aberdeenshire West, added: “This level of uncertainty has been extremely damaging for morale. The axe has been hanging over the workers for two years now.
“We have already seen what can happen when control rooms are not adequately staffed and we cannot afford for there to be a repeat of the M9 tragedy.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “Police Scotland’s approach to the remaining phases of restructuring will be subject to extensive scrutiny and independent review.
“Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Scotland continue to closely monitor the progress being made by Police Scotland to implement the recommendations contained in the 2015 review of police call handling.”
North-east divisional commander, Chief Superintendent Campbell Thomson, said: “Remodelling our existing structures is absolutely necessary to ensure we are able to command and control incidents, without the restrictions that legacy arrangements bring.
“Police Scotland is committed to delivering this change in a safe and assured manner.”