POLICE chiefs have confirmed, with a £4.3 million funding boost, that a new development in Glasgow's East End WILL be a police base.

And the move could mean Scotland's new national police HQ will be sited on the Clyde.

At the final meeting of Strathclyde Police Authority – before a merger of Scotland's eight police forces on April 1 – members voted to give £4.3m to the major office development in Dalmarnock.

Convener Phillip Braat said he was "incredibly proud" members went ahead with the investment.

Mr Braat said: "Strathclyde Police Authority has a lot to be proud of.

"The authority will hand over on April 1 a police service that is both operationally and financially sound and delivering an outstanding policing service throughout the West of Scotland.

"I am incredibly proud of the fact that members of the authority, at its final meeting, saw fit to invest in a strategic policing facility in Dalmarnock.

"I have no doubt that this final decision will be a great legacy to community policing throughout the West of Scotland."

The move ends months of speculation about the future of the four-acre site being redeveloped by the Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company.

The long-running saga saw a move to locate Strathclyde Police's new HQ in Dalmarnock shelved after the Scottish Government decided to form a single police force.

The future of the building was put on hold in January 2012 under orders from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice.

A £16m grant from the Scottish Government earlier this year allowed Clyde Gateway to continue with the build and leave the facility and site available to the Scottish Police Authority.

But that proposal needed a £4.3m contribution from Strathclyde Police Authority to help with building costs.

It was back in 2008 that it was decided that the current Pitt Street HQ was not fit for use and a move to a new building would save the force £1.4m a year on running costs.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has previously said he would prefer to see the new national HQ based at the Scottish police training college at Tulliallan, Perthshire.

There has also been speculation the new HQ could be in Stirling.

But insiders said the confirmation that the Dalmarnock site will now be a policing centre could ensure the HQ is based in Glasgow.

The £4.3m boost comes from contributions from Strathclyde's 12 local authorities, including £805,900 from Glasgow City Council.

catriona.stewart@ eveningtimes.co.uk