Carluke police station is the latest to be ear marked for closure
Seaton in Aberdeen, and Balerno in Edinburgh will also close
Last updated 14th Mar 2024
The Scottish Police Authority has approved plans to shut Carluke police station following public consultation.
The South Lanarkshire branch was formally declared as surplus along with Seaton in Aberdeen, and Balerno in Edinburgh at yesterday’s Scottish Police Authority Resources Committee meeting (13 March 2024).
Police Scotland announced on 14 December 2023 proposals to close a number of police stations across the country as part of their estate transformation strategy.
READ MORE: Future of over 40 Police Scotland buildings in jeopardy.
After extensive water damage, Carluke was last fully utilised as an operational station three years ago.
Since then, local community officers have been deploying from Lanark just over five miles away.
Comments received from the public reflected that the station’s presence gave assurance to the community and was a deterrent for crime, however there was concern over the nearest station being Lanark.
However, officers have continued to effectively serve the area from there with no detriment to the level of policing to the community of Carluke.
Chief Superintendent Stevie Dolan said: “Police Scotland inherited a very large and ageing estate, much of which was not fit for purpose, with high maintenance costs and environmental inefficiencies.
READ MORE: Baillieston locals voice concerns over potential police station closure.
“Our officers based at Lanark will continue to cover the Carluke area, as they have been doing, and the public will receive the same high level of service.”
“Our building in Carluke suffered significant water damage and has not been used as an operational police station for the last three years. The building is in a significant state of disrepair and does not provide a suitable working environment for our officers and staff. The officers previously based there were transferred to Lanark and have continued to provide a policing service to surrounding areas.
“With advances in digital technology, officers are no longer tied to working from police buildings. A lot of the paperwork side of policing can now be done directly into mobile devices that officers carry with them. Our officers therefore spend much of their time out in communities dealing with calls and helping the public.
“Although it has been vacant, Carluke has continued to incur day to day running costs and ongoing repairs and maintenance, which is not best use of public funds.
“I realise the physical police presence of the building has provided reassurance and confidence to the local community over the years however I would like to assure local residents that our officers will continue to be active, visible and accessible."