Tulliallan Police HQ

14/03/2013

Tulliallan Castle is to be retained as the headquarters of the new national police force for Scotland, housing continuing training, conference services, planning, and offices for the chief constable and a number of other senior officers and staff.

I would challenge the claim that Tulliallan is somehow “isolated”, when it is in fact close to the motorway network via the Kincardine and Clackmannanshire Bridges. But I do accept that the Castle’s listed status might have made conversion into a hi-tech command and control centre difficult and expensive. Therefore, the choice of Randolphfield in Stirling as the operational hub may well be a good one, especially considering the forecasted low cost to convert the existing Central Police HQ.

The above was originally written for Bill’s Dunfermline Press column. This version may vary slightly.

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Chief Constable Stephen House

08/01/2013

I recently met up with the new Chief Constable of Scotland, Stephen House, at Tulliallan Castle, where the restructured single national police force has its interim headquarters.

As a supporter of making Tulliallan the permanent HQ, I was happy to note that the Chief Constable does not seem opposed to the possibility, though the police service will have to weigh up the pros and cons of all alternatives. Tulliallan is a convenient central location with an established Police College and with many facilities already in place, but the cost of installing a modern command and control centre will likely be key to the final decision.

Something Mr House made crystal clear is his long-standing support for the national police force. At this significant juncture in Scottish policing, his ‘can-do’ manner and impressive experience – 37 years’ service by the time his current four-year contract ends – give the reassuring feeling that he is the right man to deliver greater efficiency and effectiveness. Read more of this post

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Police Memorial Service

13/09/2012

On 5th September I attended the Annual Service of Remembrance at the Scottish Police Memorial, located on the grounds of the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan. This memorial is dedicated to those police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Reverend Georgie Baxendale’s service was a fine tribute, and the Lone Piper’s Lament by Stewart Reid, whose police officer grandfather lost his life in the line of duty, was particularly moving. Among those who laid wreaths was Kenny MacAskill, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, on behalf of the Scottish Government, while the Lord-Lieutenant of Fife, Margaret Dean, laid another on behalf of the Queen. Read more of this post

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Tulliallan Police HQ Announcement

22/02/2012

MSP Bill Walker has welcomed confirmation that the interim headquarters of the new Police Service of Scotland will be at Tulliallan Police College, after the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland chose the location. Read more of this post

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