A new assistant for Lamlash police station could be on the cards … finally.
The post is now being seriously considered by Strathclyde Police, Isle of Arran Community Council was told this week.
The news comes 18 months after the community council was told that a business case had been submitted for a full-time or part-time civilian assistant.
The campaign began after islanders complained there was no one at the station to help them when officers were out and about on duty.
At the community council’s meeting on Tuesday chairman Campbell Laing said he had received a reply to his letter to the force of February 7 asking for an update, stating that the matter was being progressed.
The news has been welcomed by Arran’s police sergeant, Bob MacKay.
‘A civilian station assistant would definitely be a good idea,’ he said.
‘I know that a business plan has been put forward for one and it would be a positive step.
‘Anything that releases more time for police to go out on the streets has to be a benefit to the island. Civilianisation is a big thing in the police service now.’
Campbell Laing said he felt islanders would be happy if the job was just a part-time one and that it was now hoped it would come to fruition.
He said he was also assured by the force that improvements were being made at its call centre. There had been some minor problems and staff were being better educated about their work.
In his letter of February 7 to the commander of U division, which covers Arran, Campbell said nothing had improved since the community council wrote in 2006 about it.
‘There was a lack of knowledge of the community and it was felt that calls to the control were not being handled with the due urgency that was required,’ he stated.
‘It is increasingly difficult for the public to understand how the police service or its servants prioritise calls.
‘What is of minor importance to the police could be one of the most harrowing experiences that a member of the public has come across in their lives and the police have to recognise that and act accordingly.
‘The fact that you are given a crime number when a matter is reported does not alleviate the police from the responsibility of calling within a reasonable time to interview the complainer and that ‘reasonable time’ should surely be at least within the time of an officer’s shift – not within two days or more.’
