By Gemma Fraser
Head of content
Scotland’s police stations have lost almost 40 per cent of their cells since the creation of the single force, 1919 can reveal.
New figures show that 438 cells have been taken out of action since 2013, meaning officers with no local availability have to travel to the nearest town or city with detention facilities – which can often take several hours.
Concerns have been raised about the impact on resources, officer welfare and public safety.
The figures, released via freedom of information legislation, show the number of cells currently available for police officers to use across the estate is 699 – down from 1,137 in 2013.
In total, 70 stations have operational custody suites – which can be used to detain people who have been arrested for up to 24 hours – compared with 101 in 2013.
The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) said the loss of such a significant number of cells has a direct impact on community policing and places “significant strain” on officers.
General secretary David Kennedy said: “When custody capacity is reduced, officers are often required to travel long distances with detainees, which not only removes them from frontline duties for extended periods, but also raises concerns about officer welfare and public safety.
“Our members are committed to serving their communities, but the steady erosion of custody facilities means policing is becoming less visible and less accessible at a local level.
“This isn’t just about buildings – it’s about ensuring officers can respond quickly, maintain strong community ties, and uphold public confidence.
“Scotland’s police officers need the resources and infrastructure to do their job effectively. Without urgent investment in custody capacity, the challenges facing policing will only increase.”
Out of the 70 custody suites listed as operational, 12 have no available cells as they have been “permanently taken out of service”, but officers can still use the charge bar and interview rooms.
The 12 sites are Arbroath, Perth, Alness, Aviemore, Dingwall, Stirling, Dalkeith, Drylaw, Eyemouth, Galashiels, Newton Stewart, and Sanquhar.
In addition, Peebles currently has no cells as they are closed while “minor modifications” are carried out, while Falkirk’s cells are closed for estates work for ten weeks.
1919 reported earlier this year how police officers in the central belt were warned that their local custody suites were full, and that any new prisoners would have to be transferred to the north of the country.
A memo was sent out warning of a “high level of demand” over the last weekend in April, with alternative locations for custody cells including Dundee and Aberdeen.
When asked, Police Scotland was unable to provide the number of times custody suites have reached, or neared, capacity within the past 12 months.
Scottish Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: “The SNP have allowed Police Scotland to be hollowed out, with ministers neglecting to properly resource the force time and again, despite warnings about the impact this has.
“Hardworking officers are overstretched, tied up in courtrooms giving evidence or attending mental health calls, instead of being on our streets keeping communities safe.
“Custody facilities are a vital part of our justice system. However, SNP mismanagement has left officers having to travel for miles across the country seeking available cells.
“This means they are wasting valuable time on travelling, rather than serving on the front line.”
The Scottish Conservatives said the SNP government had “decimated local policing through their failed centralisation agenda”.
The party’s justice spokesperson, Stephen Kerr, said: “It is disgraceful that police officers can now spend hours driving suspects around the country because local custody facilities have disappeared.
“Every minute spent on the road is a minute they’re not out protecting the public.”
Last year, 1919 revealed that 180 police buildings have been lost since the establishment of Police Scotland.
The force’s 10-year estates masterplan is aiming to modernise its infrastructure by moving away from legacy arrangements and creating more co-location hubs.
Chief Superintendent Christopher Stewart said: “Since 2013 our custody provision, which had been inherited from legacy structures, has changed and evolved to reflect current demand.
“Our officers are committed to dealing with individuals in a proportionate and appropriate way and officers now have different options available to them as an alternative to police custody.
“However, custody provision exists across Scotland to ensure we keep communities safe and when someone is required to be brought in, they will be.
“Our estate allows for the stand up of additional custody centres in response to operational demand.
“Our priority is ensuring a safe and secure environment for our people, and those who are brought into custody, whilst also protecting the public from harm.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “While decisions around police custody arrangements are operational matters for the Chief Constable, we are supporting Police Scotland’s plans to improve their custody estate to meet current needs through investing a record £1.7 billion in policing in 2026/27.
“This includes £70 million of capital funding to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose police estate.
“Scotland continues to have more police officers per capita than England and Wales, and recorded crime has fallen by almost half since 1991.”