Plans announced to close 10 police station front counters in Lancashire
It's after a fall in use at some front desks in a bid to make savings of £1.4m
Last updated 27th Jun 2017
Police stations across Lancashire could be about to close their front counters in a bid to help the force save £1.4 million.
It comes as demand for contacting police via telephone or on Facebook continues to rise.
In some stations as few as three people per day have visited.
The force say the review will not result in any station closures nor change the way areas are policed but it will deliver £1.4m of the £19.8m in savings the police need to find by 2020 – this is on top of the £72.2m cuts already delivered since austerity began.
The proposals include closing ten desks and reducing opening hours of the others.
The front desks earmarked for closure are at Poulton, Kirkham, St Annes, Leyland, Ormskirk, Waterfoot, Clitheroe, Darwen, Colne and Barnoldswick police stations.
The cost of serving a member of the public at each station varies from £5.77 at the busiest stations and £44.23 at the quietest, based on hours worked and number of people seen.
Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner is assuring the public that no police stations will be closing:
Clive Grunshaw said: "Firstly I want to reassure our communities this review will not change the way areas are policed. Front counters are not staffed by police officers and this review will not impact on officer numbers.
"Of course these changes are taking place as part of the way the Constabulary looks to manage the continuing cuts to its funding by Government.
"But it is more than just that, what the Constabulary wants to do is ensure services provide value for money and are delivered in a way that people want to receive them.
"We have to look at how the public want to report crimes and make sure that service receives the investment it needs. The public have been voting with their feet for some time and the front counters proposed for closure serve only three to ten people a day."
Chief Superintendent Peter Lawson, the senior officer responsible for the review said: "The Constabulary has conducted a thorough review of the front counter service and it shows their use by the public continues to fall. Some of this is due to changes to processes such as immigration checks and some vehicle checks which are moving online, but in the main it is due to improved technology and greater use of phones.
"Our enquiry desk staff perform a valuable role and this needs to be maintained, but not at the current level which far outweighs demand. Members of the public will still be able to contact local officers, engage with local policing teams and gain the help and support they need.
A three-week consultation has been launched asking for people's views - you can have your say at http://lancashire-pcc.gov.uk/latest-news/front-counter-review/