Council Leader And Strategic Lead For Police Welcome Creation Of Police Call Handling Jobs In Inverness

7th October 2020

Leader of The Highland Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson has welcomed Police Scotland's announcement that it has created 25 new jobs in Inverness with the creation of a specialist call handling service team.

Cllr Davidson said: "The creation of 25 new jobs in the city is good news for Inverness and Highland region especially during the ongoing economic decline caused by coronavirus. These high-quality service sector Police jobs are a welcome boost to our community.

"I am particularly pleased that Police Scotland is recognising the personal value that the new team of specialist police officers will bring to the 101 and 999 services, with their local knowledge and experience of policing urban, remote and island communities.

"In 2015, I wrote to the Chief Constable expressing disappointment at the closure of the Inverness Police control room, and this is very welcome news today that a local service supporting the national Contact Command and Control service is now being provided.

Cllr Matthew Reiss, Highland Council's Strategic Lead for Police and Fire who was himself a former senior police officer added: "Chief Constable Iain Livingstone told us that jobs would be decentralised to the remoter areas and, whilst it has taken time, that promise has been kept and I am genuinely delighted.

“We understand that the 25 police officers will be working as part of a ‘Resolution Team' which will join the National Database Enquiry Unit in refurbished offices in Inverness and that further development of these services are expected in the future.

“We look forward to hearing from Police Scotland what these ‘further developments' will be and how Police Scotland will demonstrate its commitment to decentralising its workforce and ensuring national resources are distributed around the country."

PHOTO - Councillor Matthew Reiss