The cost to repair Police Scotland’s crumbling estate stands at almost £232 million, new figures show.
A Scottish Conservatives investigation has laid bare the enormous bill to fix maintenance issues across police buildings and stations.
The worst repair backlog is in the Greater Glasgow division, where a list of upgrades will cost £46.5 million. The bill to fix all outstanding issues across Scotland now stands at £231.6million.
A report presented to the Scottish Police Authority last year described the force estate as ‘unsustainable’ and not fit for modern policing.
Scottish Tory community safety spokeswoman Sharon Dowey said: ‘The SNP’s sustained neglect has resulted in this truly staggering backlog.
‘It’s appalling that already overwhelmed Police Scotland officers are being forced to work in crumbling conditions. This is unsafe and can’t continue.
‘This is not just affecting staff morale – it can have an impact on the ability of officers to safely police their community.’
She added: ‘These conditions are unsustainable, unfair and, coupled with dangerously low officer numbers, highlight SNP ministers’ contempt for our police force.’
The cost of removing RAAC from Police Scotland’s former Fettes HQ in Edinburgh was put at around £4 million
The Scottish Police Federation – which represents rank-and-file officers – said Greenock police station requires significant investment to bring it up to scratch
As of mid-July, 183 Scottish police stations were identified as in need of repairs, with asbestos found in 177 of them.
In 2023 it emerged that several police buildings had been built with collapse-prone RAAC concrete. The cost of removing it from Police Scotland’s former Fettes HQ in Edinburgh was put at around £4 million.
Meanwhile, 140 police stations and almost 100 police counters have closed between 2013 and 2023.
Earlier this year, the Scottish Police Federation – which represents rank-and-file officers – said Greenock police station required hundreds of thousands of pounds for repairs in the last seven years but needs yet more investment to bring it up to scratch.
In March, David Threadgold, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, warned Scottish Government ministers of ‘policing deserts’ in some areas.
Mr Threadgold said that station closures and stresses imposed on serving Police Scotland officers had created ‘an almost invisible policing presence, providing an utterly reactive service’.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We support Police Scotland’s commitment to providing a safe environment for officers, staff and the public.’
Police Scotland said a ‘significant number of buildings’ will have been upgraded by the end of the financial year.
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Cost to fix Scotland’s ‘crumbling’ police stations stands at £232million