The two national emergency services have come together in partnership to launch a new joint hub in the Dumfries and Galloway town.

Officers from the former Kirkcudbright Police Station took up residence in the fire station after the two services worked together to ensure the community retains a strong emergency service presence through co-location.

The partnership will see officers and SFRS crews working closely together on a daily basis to tackle local issues.

Area Commander Craig McGoldrick is the local senior officer for Dumfries and Galloway.

He said: “This is an excellent opportunity for us to further consolidate an already strong working relationship between Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland.

“Co-location of services brings a number of benefits for our organisations, but particularly in terms of the opportunities for regular joint working and interaction, which will benefit the local community.

“We would like to welcome our Police Scotland colleagues into Kirkcudbright Community Station.”

Chief Superintendent Linda Jones formally recognised the decommissioned police station and its co-location earlier this week.

She said: “This closure marks the end of policing from an old building which has been without its criminal justice neighbours for almost ten years now.

“Kirkcudbright Police Station has not been entirely fit for purpose since those neighbours moved on and I am delighted that my officers are co-locating with our partners in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

“The design and layout of their local fire station is really conducive for my officers to work from and is already a well-established landmark in the Kirkcudbright community."

ENDS