A FORMER Provost of Inverclyde choked back tears as he told of his dismay over the plan to axe Greenock police station - and urged people to 'take to the streets' to preserve operational services in the district.

Ciano Rebecchi was overcome with emotion as he shared his concerns about controversial moves to shut the Rue End Street HQ, and threw his weight behind the Telegraph's Protect Our Policing campaign. 

During his time as a councillor, Mr Rebecchi was a leading light in protests to save the Rankin Maternity unit, and in 2004 he played a key role in the campaign to save the Inverclyde Royal's A&E department. 

He also spoke out in support of the Telegraph's award-winning Stop Knives Save Lives campaign, launched in 2009. 

Mr Rebecchi says the same drive and determination is now needed from the people of Inverclyde to help save police services. 

He told the Telegraph: "We can't just accept them taking things away from us. 

"It's time that the people of Inverclyde started getting onto the streets and shouting about it.

"We need to get out there and be more vocal about it. 

"The council, councillors, MP and MSP should all be working together for the people of Inverclyde."

Visibly upset, Mr Rebecchi added: "I'm very proud to say that I'm from Inverclyde. 

"I've spent my life trying to help people worse off than me. 

"They're trying to take things away from us and think we're just going to accept it."

Greenock Telegraph:
The Telegraph's campaign demands - 

*A permanent suite of custody cells for holding arrested people

*A public-facing front counter, open 24 hours a day, every day

*A CID department retained at current levels

*Community policing retained at current levels

*Response policing retained at current levels 

Greenock Telegraph:

Mr Rebecchi says one of his biggest concerns is that Inverclyde is at risk of losing its custody suite of police cells under the station closure plan. 

He said: "There are between 60 and 63 cells in there and the station has been described as a 'grade A' custody facility. 

"We won't have that anywhere else in Greenock."

Echoing the concerns of former police area commander and retired superintendent, Debbie Reilly, the former Provost said that losing the custody suite would result officers having to travel to Glasgow with arrested people.

Mr Rebecchi added: "It will take police away from this area. 

"If someone needs assistance on West Blackhall Street, it could take police an hour to get there from Glasgow.

"We need officers here all the time so they get to know the ordinary people and get to know the area."

Mr Rebecchi declared that Police Scotland must now let people know what will happen next in the process. 

He said: "We need to know what's going to happen when it shuts.

"What are they going to do, give us a police box back again?

"There is a lot of fear out there about what's going on. 

"Having a station in the centre of town helps the area and it makes people feel safer."

You can sign up to the Telegraph's petition here.