Stirling police officers have had to use a former prisoners’ cell complex for changing and shower facilities over recent months due to the condition of the station’s locker room.
The state of the facilities at the Randolphfield police office , where more than 100 officers are based, was highlighted last week by the Scottish Police Federation.
It was among a number of police facilities across the country identified by the federation as being in poor condition.
The organisation represents ranks which include constables, sergeants, inspectors and chief inspectors.
Mould on the walls of the Randolphfield locker room was first highlighted to the force in October last year but nothing had been done to fix the problem until last month due to a lack of funding.
During that time officers had no operational showers or changing facilities and had to use the former prisoners’ cells and showers to change before going out on the beat or on other duties.
Scottish Police Federation’s east area committee chair Andy Malcolm said this week: “Officers based at Stirling are expected to shower in a disused cell complex. This has been the case since July 2018.
“They have now moved lockers into cells and officers are expected to change there. Issues around the Stirling changing area were identified in October 2016 when mushrooms were found growing near the entrance. Work has recently commenced at Stirling, but it has taken years for work to begin.”
“The SPF has identified worse changing rooms than the ones at Stirling. They were highlighted to the force in October last year but work has only just begun this month due to the new financial year.
“As a result, officers are being left to endure diabolical and unhygienic conditions.”
Stirling’s custody suite was closed in 2017 on health and safety and fire risk grounds “to ensure the safety and well-being of staff and prisoners.”
It followed a check of the 21 Randolphfield cells which was originally aimed at finding out how feasible it would be to replace non-Home Office compliant inward-opening doors. However, the check discovered a number of “significant” extra issues.
People taken into custody are now transported to the custody ‘hub’ at Falkirk Police Station or the nearest alternative, which at peak times could be Edinburgh or Clydebank.
Pointing out this week that Randophfield’s changing facilities had been out of commission since October, Mr Malcolm added: “It’s ridiculous that this is what officers are expected to put up with.
“Putting people into a cell complex because we do not have the money or cannot get a repair done is unacceptable.”
“Other options should be available. There should be other viable alternatives. This has an affect on police officers’ morale.”
Stirling, said Mr Malcolm, was also a police office where it was “not uncommon” for officers to find only two serviceable vehicles out of 10.
He explained: “The choice to attend is often hampered by the number of available vehicles as the rest are often being repaired.
“The force is currently paying high repair costs rather than replacing vehicles which have exceeded the five-year old limit or 150,000 miles replacement scheme.
“Communities are being failed by the lack of regard for essential pieces of equipment.”
Police Scotland deputy chief constable Will Kerr said this week: “The safety and wellbeing of our people is a priority for Police Scotland, as is meeting our legislative requirements.
“Police Scotland requires significant capital funding to address historic under investment as well as previous poor investment decisions. The current allocation is significantly smaller than would be proportionate for an organisation of our size and scope.
“Across a multitude of demands, we are prioritising the capital budget and are investing in the right areas to achieve as much as we can, as quickly as we can.
“This month we published an ambitious strategy to develop a sustainable, modern and demand-led property estate that will deliver something fundamentally different and innovative, but less expensive and more effective, for our citizens.”
