Eight Glasgow police stations are among the 40 across Scotland at risk of closure. 

Under new proposals, 29 Police Scotland stations and buildings could be scrapped – most of which still house officers for various purposes – so savings can be reinvested into the force.

A consultation has been launched concerning the future of a further 15 vacant buildings and one plot of land near the station in the city's Partick.

The city centre base at Stewart Street – which remains open 24 hours a day and houses the divisional management team and detectives - is also at risk. 

The announcement comes amid an ongoing call from the force for a substantial funding increase in next year’s Scottish Budget – due to be announced next week.

Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said the force’s estate “needs to be fit for 21st-century policing”.

He added: “Our presence in communities is not defined by buildings but by the officers and staff who work there, and we have already introduced technology that enables our officers to remain in local areas, reducing the need for them to return to police stations to deal with paperwork.

“We are determined to continue to improve our visibility and accessibility, as well as to bring partners together to deliver services in the most efficient and effective way.

“Police Scotland inherited a very large and ageing estate, much of which was not fit for purpose, with high maintenance costs and environmental inefficiencies.

“The locations of many inherited buildings no longer meet the requirements of local communities, and in some cases, the organisation is currently maintaining multiple buildings in the same geographic area, less than five miles apart.”

Glasgow Conservative MP Annie Wells spoke about the plans, which she feels poses a 'worrying' prospect for the city.

She said: “This is really worrying news for the people of Glasgow.

“Communities need their police stations and place great trust and value in them.

“Closing these down risks making police an even less visible presence than they are currently.

“Criminals across Glasgow already feel emboldened by soft-touch justice policies and a reduced number of officers on the beat.

“This further downgrade will make the most dangerous people more confident still.

“It’s time the Scottish Government properly funded our police service so they wouldn’t face having to make decisions like these.”

Both Scottish Labour justice spokeswoman Pauline McNeill and Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Liam McArthur described the proposal as a 'hammer blow'.

David Malcolm, the Police Scotland branch secretary for trade union Unison, said: “No-one seriously thinks that this is about improving services – it is a cost-cutting measure. It might deliver balanced books, but it won’t deliver better policing.

“These measures themselves will shape the demand from the public and put pressure on already stretched resources in the police contact centre and control rooms as more communities see their police offices taken away.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “While this is an operational decision, Police Scotland’s estate strategy, published in 2019, outlined plans to dispose of outdated, under-invested, and under-used properties, so they could develop modern premises capable of delivering effective and efficient public services to meet the needs of people and the staff who use them.

“These plans also include disposing of properties that are no longer used or fit for purpose and the consideration of co-locations with partner organisations in modern, well-equipped accommodation.

"Such co-locations make the best use of the public sector estate and offer the opportunity for increased visibility, closer working and increased collaboration between partners. Police Scotland has over 60 examples of successful co-location.

“Police perform an essential role keeping Scotland’s communities safe, which is why, despite difficult financial circumstances due to UK Government cuts, we increased police funding by £80 million to £1.45 billion in 2023-24.”