Petrol blunder shuts Bellshill Police Station

Bellshill police station had to be evacuated after a serving officer caused an environmental hazard by disposing of five litres of fuel down a drain in a shower block.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th May 2020, 16:24 BST

The smell of fuel was so strong in the Thorn Road premises that staff had to leave their posts for two hours while the emergency services and Scottish Water were contacted.

The petrol had seemingly been seized in an incident involving a wilful fireraising which police were unable to provide any further information about.

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Chief Inspector James Gillespie, Lanarkshire Division, said: “Bellshill Police Station was closed between 10am and 12pm on Friday, 8 May, due to local officers disposing of fuel down a drain within the station.

“The officers involved quickly recognised their actions were wrong and inappropriate and advice has been given.”

A Scottish Water spokesperson said: “Scottish Water attended Bellshill Police Station to provide any help or advice that was required following the incident.

“The waste water network at this location is a combined system, which means that rain water and waste water go into the same system. The quantity of fuel involved would have been diluted by the time it got to the local waste water treatment works and would not cause any problems for our infrastructure or impact on the environment.

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“This incident is a reminder to all customers to ensure they put only the correct things down toilets, sinks and drains.”

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