Front counter update in Lanarkshire Division
Police Scotland is updating the provision of front counter services across Lanarkshire. These changes will take effect on Wednesday, 1 April, 2026.
The way people contact the police has changed significantly over the past decade, with greater reliance on 101 and online reporting. As a result, fewer members of the public are attending police stations in person.
The changes are designed to build a policing model that provides best value and enables warranted officers to go back to frontline duties. We have consulted with all staff affected by these changes.
The front counter changes include a mix of maintained services, revised opening hours and an uplift in provision, alongside the closure of a small number of front counters.
Front counters for closure are those with low recorded footfall, and where geographically, there remains a station nearby where front counter provision is being maintained. Footfall at public counters is routinely monitored to help us understand how best to allocate our resources.
The front counter changes include:
• Increasing staffing resource at Lanark. The station will continue to be open seven days a week, 8am to 6pm
• Wishaw will be open from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
• Cambuslang will be open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
• Airdrie will be open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
• The following front counters will be closing, Bellshill, Larkhall, Blantyre and Kilsyth.
Lanarkshire police stations that will remain with no change to front counter services:
• Coatbridge is open from 7am to 12am, Monday to Sunday
• Motherwell is open 24 hours a day, Monday to Sunday
• Hamilton is open 24 hours a day, Monday to Sunday
• East Kilbride is open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Sunday
• Cumbernauld is open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Sunday
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Local Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Vicky Watson said:
“The way people contact the police has changed and it is important that our services adapt to meet the needs of 21st century policing. Our officers and staff will continue to provide a high quality service to communities across Lanarkshire and these changes allow us to focus our resources where they are needed most.
“By updating how our front counter services operate, we can release officers to focus on tackling the most serious risks and harm in our communities, while keeping policing visible and locally responsive.
“We are committed to shaping our services to best meet the needs of communities and is that is financially sustainable for the future. “
For non-emergencies and general enquiries, you can call 101, and 999 in the event of an emergency.
If you are deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or cannot communicate via speech you can utilise the text relay service on 18001101.
For emergencies British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us by using 999 BSL - https://999bsl.co.uk/
For non-emergencies BSL users can use Contact Scotland BSL - https://contactscotland-bsl.org/
Both of these sites are free to use.