The Force review programme has created three strategic territorial policing divisions, North, Central and East to provide clarity in terms of overall structure with the emphasis remaining on local policing. Territorial Policing has therefore been structured in the following way:
Division: Divisions are Superintendent led are principally coterminous with Highland and Island Council management areas, and provide strategic management and direction to Area Commands.
Within these Divisions are eight Area Commands policed by locally based Chief Inspector and Inspector teams. The Area Commands retain tactical and managerial oversight responsibility for delivery of local policing. Under the Area Commands are Local Policing Teams which are Inspector led and provide localised operational oversight, response coverage and accountability.
Local Policing Teams correlate with the principal centres of population within each Area Command/Division generally providing 24/7 policing capability.
The Force covers an area of around 10,000 square miles and stretches from the village of Kilchoan in the South West and as far as Shetland in the North - the largest land mass covered by a UK Police Force.
With most of the Highland's 300,000 residents populated within small villages, a community-based approach to policing is a primary aim of Northern Constabulary.
