June 2000 Sponsored by Grampian Police Issue No 10

Grampian Police Invests in the Future

Grampian Police marked its silver anniversary on Tuesday 16 May with the opening of a newly refurbished Police Office in Rothes.
Twenty-five years after Grampian Police was formed, the office at 2 New Street, Rothes - built in 1967 - has reopened following a £180,000  modernisation.  Assistant Chief Constable Adrian Ward and Moray Council Convener Edward Aldridge presided over the opening ceremony which saw Sheryl Murphy of Rothes Primary School cut the ribbon.
Sherly (10), a Primary 6 pupil, was the winner of a poster competition organised to mark the occasion.  She received a plaque and her class a cash voucher.
Mr. Ward praised all who helped create the much expanded accommodation to an impressively high standard with facilities that could match anything in Grampian Police.  He paid tribute to the work of Moray Council Property Services and its architect Billy Smith;  main contractors Darroch and Allan;  and local firms I. Fraser and Sons and J. Sutherland and Son.
The new office will strengthen the already close links with the community in the Upper Speyside section, he said, and he looked to the modernised Rothes office to serve the area for at least another thirty years.

The rebuild has extensively re-modelled the ground floor, creating a new general office, interview room and disabled toilet.  The constables' muster room is enlarged and a secure store created.  There is now accommodation on the top floor for the section sergeant, canteen, locker room and incident/conference room.  Involuntary visitors will find that heating has now been provided in a custody cell!
All officers have computer points and a CCTV system overlooks the reception area.  There is a new garage which can accommodate four wheel drive vehicles.  Adjoining houses and a garden area will be sold on the open market.
Grampian Police are also marking their 25th anniversary year with a major investment in policing South Aberdeenshire where a new £1.5 million headquarters has been built in Inverurie.  The transfer of staff to this new facility is almost complete and a media visit is planned soon.  It is hoped to have an official opening ceremony in the late summer.

Sheryl Murphy cuts the ribbon to
officially open Rothes Police Station