2. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of police station closures on police response times. (S6O-02721)

Police Scotland’s approach to responding to incidents is clearly working, with recorded crime being at one of the lowest levels since 1974. When assessing how to respond to an incident, Police Scotland always assesses a reported crime under its threat, harm, risk, investigation, vulnerability and engagement—THRIVE—model. That places the needs of the individual at the centre of the police’s decisions while ensuring that effective prioritisation is in place.

Police Scotland’s estate strategy is working to deliver modern and fit-for-purpose police buildings that are co-located with partners and that meet the needs of 21st-century operational policing.

Police Scotland has warned that it could be forced to shed 2,000 jobs and close 30 police stations thanks to the Scottish National Party’s funding cuts. MSPs on the Criminal Justice Committee were warned that those cuts would impact incident response times. Does the Cabinet secretary accept that, if more police stations were to close, response times would inevitably get worse?

No, I do not accept that. I hope that the member does not mind my saying that the correlation that she suggests between static police stations and police response times is simplistic. However, I acknowledge that the location of police stations is important, particularly in some rural areas.

As the member knows, there are a number of ways to report a crime, and it does not always necessitate turning up in person to a police station. In fact, how people report crimes has changed greatly over the decades. On response times, Police Scotland will continue to prioritise emergency incidents and has updated, and will continue to update, its call-handling system.

Police numbers were reported last week in our quarterly statistical update, and they remain stable—

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Thank you, Cabinet secretary. We need to move on to supplementary questions. Three members have requested to ask questions, and I intend to take all three.

Can the Cabinet secretary advise what resources would be taken from front-line police services if the chief constable had decided not to proceed with the closure of police stations that he has deemed surplus to optimum operational requirements?

First, I should say that the chief constable is a she—I am sure that Mr Gibson will not mind my pointing that out to him.

On the substance of his question, through the modernisation of its estate and the disposing of buildings that are no longer fit for purpose, Police Scotland has secured receipts of around £31 million, which has been reinvested into the police estate and other police initiatives.

Can the Cabinet secretary outline which 30 police stations Police Scotland is considering for closure? Local authorities, which already have to deal with reduced hours and far fewer police in communities than in previous decades, still do not know the full list of planned closures. Is that something that the cabinet secretary is able to share with us today?

No, it is not, because it is not a matter for me. That would be entirely inappropriate. It is a matter for the chief constable, and it is one in which I am assured that local commanders are engaged directly with local communities, bearing in mind that, as a result of the reform legislation, local authorities have an active role in approving local priorities for policing.

I am quite sure that the member is aware of Police Scotland’s public estate strategy, which was published in 2019. I am also sure that she is aware that the Scottish Police Authority has a role in scrutinising decisions that are made by Police Scotland and that it meets in public.

Can the Cabinet secretary outline some of the success that co-location with partners has had in delivering better outcomes for individuals, communities and Police Scotland itself?

I can, indeed. I have often noted in the chamber that a great example of co-location is found in Livingston, in my Constituency, where seven partners, including Police Scotland, are located in the West Lothian civic centre. I understand that people can be attached to long-standing buildings, but public services and the nature of policing have changed very much over the past several decades and, indeed, in this century, with a greater focus on partnership working, which co-location and collaboration support.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Question 3 was not lodged.