A FORMER Scottish justice secretary has today thrown his weight behind the Tele's 'Protect Our Policing' campaign.

Kenny MacAskill says he is backing our fight to safeguard local 999 services amid growing uncertainty surrounding the proposed replacement of the current station in Greenock.

Mr MacAskill, who is now a Westminster MP and depute leader of Alba Party, served as Scotland’s SNP justice secretary between 2007 and 2014.

The Alba Party number two says that one of the key achievements made during that spell was putting 1,000 extra police officers on the streets of Scotland and helping reduce crime to its lowest level in decades.

He believes that closing the existing station could threaten the progress made, and has called for a rethink from Police Scotland HQ. 

Mr MacAskill MP said: “Police stations like all public buildings are subject to review.

"Some can simply be too old.

"Others can be impractical for the wants of modern policing and are no longer suitable for either officers or the communities they serve.

"But stations do still matter, and especially what have been major divisional headquarters such as in Greenock.

"The building isn't that old and offers facilities for staff and public.

"Moreover, it has cell capacity that is often badly needed."

Mr MacAskill believes the crux of the matter is that the controversial proposal has been tabled at a time when the force is facing cutbacks.

He said: "If this were simply upgrading or replacing an older building with another in the town centre there would be no need for alarm.

"As it is, it's part of what seems a cull driven by cost savings and neither the needs of policing or of public safety.

"Whole areas in the west of Scotland are to be bereft.

"A vital part of the fabric of public safety and community relations in Inverclyde is threatened.

"This is wrong and must stop or clear plans for the building of new enhanced accommodation in Greenock must be spelt out.

"Otherwise officers and public lose and only criminals win.”

Mr MacAskill's comments follow those of council leader Stephen McCabe, who has urged Police Scotland bosses to consider refurbishing the closure-threatened Greenock station.

He made the plea at an emergency meeting of the council's Police Scrutiny Panel last week as he posed a series of questions to Chief Superintendent Gordon McCreadie. 

The councillor said he has been 'struggling to understand' how a refurbishment of the Rue End Street facility, built in 1975, can be 'categorically ruled out' before a full analysis of options has been considered. 

In a statement read at the start of the meeting, Chief Superintendent McCreadie said bringing the Rue End Street station up to a 'modern standard' would take 'many millions'. 

He said his preference would be for a new site to replace the current facility.