Police officers paid to act as human parking barriers after gate breaks at Perth police station

POLICE have been paying officers to act as human parking barriers for 24 hours a day after a mechanical gate broke down.

Concerned residents initially thought the car park was being manned round the clock due to an increased security threat.

But instead, force chiefs revealed it was the best way to operate the car park to the rear of Perth police station while they await repairs.

Officers have been withdrawn from other frontline duties to sit in a parked patrol car day and night for more than a week.

The arrangement has been described as a “ludicrous waste of taxpayers’ money” and is expected to continue for several more days until spare parts for the broken barrier are sourced.

Officers are being sent out in two-hour shifts and have been seen driving a few yards forward to let approved vehicles enter the car park.

The patrol car can then be seen backing into the same position in front of the broken barrier as the officer waits for another car to arrive.

A force insider said: “It is a ridiculous situation and one that looks like dragging on for a while yet because we have heard the spare part needed is not available yet.

“The barrier broke down at the start of the month and the bosses decided the best way to deal with it was to use officers as impromptu parking barriers.

“It is comical but it is a drain on manpower at a time when we are pared to the bone as it is.

“People have been coming in off the street and asking what is going on.

“When we told them they described it as a ludicrous waste of taxpayers’ money – and it would be hard to argue with that.”

Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said: “I hope that repairs can be completed as quickly as possible to avoid further resources being wasted.”

A spokesman for Police Scotland said it was not known when the barrier would be repaired.

He said: “The gate developed a fault, it’s been removed and we’re awaiting repairs. To maintain the security of the building and parking area, we have to keep an officer on point until it’s repaired. Somebody has to be there 24 hours a day.

“It’s been like this for a little while. We are waiting on a repair but we don’t have a time on that yet.”

Senior officers at the same station were left red-faced in 2013 when a thief climbed in and stole an inspector’s key before driving off in a marked car. Management were forced to carry out a security review.