‘Cutting the service is a huge blow to the vulnerable’

LOCAL people have responded to proposals to close 10 Lancashire police stations to the public.

The announcement was met with fierce criticism from residents.

Writing on the Lancashire police Facebook page, Trina Lawrie said: “Except you can’t contact police when you need them. 40+ minutes on hold trying to get through to 101 is a regular occurrence. Lancashire Police, like many others, is on the verge of not being fit for purpose.”

Lucia Beirne said: “Cutting the front counter service is a huge blow to those vulnerable in our area – and those unable to get through on 101.”

Sarah Louise Guilfoyle said: “Why don’t all the people that are telling you to cut your budget get their wages cut instead? We need more budget for the police now than we ever have.”

Eva Kahan said: “Police on a front desk offer visual reassurance for those in need and hopefully act as a deterrent for those who are up to no good.

“Mobile services and understaffed call centres simply cannot offer the same response and reassurance.”

Del Watkins said: “I work in a children’s home in Sefton and have to contact Merseyside and Lancashire police on a regular basis via 101. Merseyside answer within five minutes but Lancashire usually take well over 30 minutes!”

Ian Ramsden said: “You’re right, it won’t change the way the police patrol my area… because they don’t anymore. The loss of approximately 600 officers throughout Lancashire means rural areas, let alone city centres, don’t see much of the police anymore.”

Simon Nash said: “This won’t change the way the police patrol your area – you’ve got to be joking! We have gone from a five strong community team, to a nil strong team in my area.”

Ian Galteri Upton said: “My tax receipts are higher than ever, but services spending is lower than ever. Where are our taxes?”

Kevin Fogg said: “This is only adding to the worry. In the past three months we had had four terror attacks, at one point, we had to get the Army to help the police.

“It’s been shown that budget cuts to policing and MI5 was one of the major factors in not being able to watch the suspected terrorists, and even now the Government are asking for more cuts to the police.”

But Tony George said: “Most of the front office trade was recording driving documents which, of course, is now done by computer.

“There seems little point in employing staff to man a front office when a phone call to 101 can get you just as long a wait to report incidents.”

WHAT do you think of the proposals? Please mail us at: newsdesk@ ormskirkadvertiser.co.uk or message us via th Visiter page on Facebook.