It has already emerged that Dumfries and Galloway is set to lose more police stations after the force confirmed stations such as Gretna were being looked at.
Now, in a letter to the Scottish Conservatives, the Scottish Police Authority has confirmed it is “reviewing the police estate”.
And yesterday, at First Minister’s Questions, Nicola Sturgeon was unable to guarantee there would be no more closures beyond what has been touted in the south of Scotland.
It comes as new figures reveal the vast majority of people still prefer attending a police station to report a crime.
Police Scotland’s latest ‘Your View Counts’ publication – in which 10,000 people were surveyed – found attending a police station or speaking to an officer directly was the favoured approach of people reporting the crime by an overwhelming margin.
In contrast, only a fraction said they’d like to use email, social media or the Police Scotland website.
It was revealed in 2014 that around 60 per cent of police stations had been shut since the SNP came to power as part of a drive to reduce costs and the estate.
But it now appears a fresh round of cuts could be on the way.
Writing to Scottish Conservative MSP Oliver Mundell, the SPA’s chief executive officer John Foley said: “In 2015 the SPA approved an Estate Strategy which placed local policing needs at the forefront of Police Scotland’s priorities.
“That strategy determined that the police estate should be demand-led to respond to the needs of local communities; collaborative to ensure effective engagement with communities and partners in pursuit of shared objectives locally; and modernising to deliver a flexible working environment which supports and enables effective delivery of local and national policing services.
“In support of that strategy, Police Scotland is reviewing the police estate.”
When challenged on the situation in Dumfries and Galloway at FMQs, Ms Sturgeon merely said: “That consultation will take place and is ongoing. I am sure that Police Scotland would be happy to meet the member to discuss his concerns.”
Scottish Conservative community safety spokesman Oliver Mundell said:
“This admission from Police Scotland would appear to suggest more police station closures are on the way.
“The SNP has already forced through a number of unpopular front desk closures across communities in Scotland.
“Now it looks like the Scottish Government is preparing to swing the axe again.
“We know police stations across Dumfries and Galloway are under threat, and there's been no assurance from either Nicola Sturgeon or the single force that this isn't happening in other areas too.
“And what's worse, we know have hard evidence that attending a police station is still people's preferred way of reporting a crime.
“We cannot support further closures of police stations, and would urge the SNP to have a serious rethink on this damaging strategy.”