by BILL HEANEY
Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Yi-pei Chou Turvey MSP has today urged the SNP to “wake up” to the pressures facing the justice system, as she revealed that there are almost 500 repair works needed in police buildings across the country.
A Scottish Liberal Democrat freedom of information request to Police Scotland asked for the detail of repair works raised in condition surveys.
These surveys outline the physical state of police buildings and any work that requires attention.
The request found that:
- There are 460 works requiring attention in 175 police buildings across Scotland.
- 57 of these works related to fire safety.
- 33 related to security, while 28 related to roofing.
- Police stations in Glasgow have some of the highest numbers of repairs requiring attention, with 10 needed at the London Road Station, 10 at Meiklewood Road Complex and 8 at Govan Police Station.
- The Scottish Police College in Tulliallan has 17 repairs requiring attention
The 2026 condition surveys estimated that these works would cost £20,671,609.
The request also found that an investment of £510 million is required to maintain and upgrade the police estate in line with modern policing needs.
In 2024, Police Scotland shut down its Forfar HQ due to concerns around the building’s structural safety, water ingress and potentially dangerous airborne yeasts and moulds. Lying empty ever since, there are now plans to sell the building, but there is no indication of when it will go on the market.
Police Scotland first announced plans to replace Greenock’s ageing police station in 2023, but it has yet to be delivered.
Yi-pei Chou Turvey MSP, right, said: “The scale of the repairs needed across the police estate should be a wake-up call to this SNP government.
“With the number of sexual crimes at their highest level in over 50 years and an increasing number of complex mental health cases to deal with, Scottish policing is already under strain. Police officers need to be able to do their work in safe buildings that are fit for purpose- that should be a bare minimum.
“The SNP’s centralisation of the police has already failed to deliver many of the improvements and efficiencies that ministers promised.
“The new Justice Secretary needs to start getting this right. That means working with the police service to ensure they are well-resourced to fight crime and keep communities safe.
“Police officers should know that Scottish Liberal Democrats will continue to fight their corner.”
You can find the full results of the FOI here