Station shutdown criticised by public
RESIDENTS have slammed what they describe as the “frightening” decision to permanently close Ormskirk Police station’s front counter.
It follows a Lancashire police announcement that they will close the front counters at 10 stations county-wide, with Ormskirk’s to be lost on March 29.
From then, residents will have to travel six miles to Skelmersdale in order to report crimes in person or make enquiries.
Six more stations will also close on that date and others were closed last month.
Residents are not happy with the closures however, with many taking to social media to share their concerns.
Geoff Murray said: “Thanks Mrs May for reducing our great police force (sorry, service) to the point it can’t run its stations due to your draconian cuts in police funding.”
Suzanne Blundell described the decision as “frightening.”
She said: “I was taught that if I was frightened, lost or in trouble, to run into the police station wherever you are and get help.
“Just twice in my life I have needed to do this and cannot imagine what might have happened without two local police stations being open for me.”
Another comment, posted by Mark Cookson, said: “I have used 101 a number of times and given up every time, [there is] not enough staff... I will not use it again, no point wasting my time further.
“Very sad that I have had to come to this conclusion.”
The closures come after they were first suggested last summer and they are being carried out in a bid to save more than £1m from the force budget. It needs to find almost £20m of savings by 2020.
Lancashire police maintain that no fewer officers will be employed, and neighbourhood teams will still be based in the station and continue to patrol the area as before.
The public will continue to have access to the yellow phones at each station to contact officers, and should call 999 in emergencies or 101 in non-emergencies as normal.
Martin Bishop, an inspector with the force, said: “The decision to close some of our front counters has not been taken lightly. It follows what has been a very thorough review and a period of staff and public consultation.
“That review showed a significant decline in visitor numbers – some down to changes in processes like immigration checks and some vehicle checks which have moved online, but in the main it is due to improved technology and greater use of phones.
“The front counters which will close serve between three and 10 people a day, while the demand on the contact centre is reaching around 2,500 calls a day.”
Police and crime commissioner for the Lancashire constabulary area, Clive Grunshaw, added: “The proposals in the consultation were based not just on reducing costs but also recognising that the public are choosing to engage with the police in different ways. This means that as demand falls the cost per interaction increases and the constabulary has to manage the continuing reductions in funding from government.
“I want to reiterate that this decision will not change the way areas are policed in any way. Officers will still be based at local stations and work in these communities.”
Staffing front counters currently costs Lancashire Police £2.8m a year. Front counters mainly provide a service for people to answer their bail conditions, sex offender registrations, immigration checks, handing over or collecting property and presenting car insurance as well as ‘meet and greet’ for visitors such as legal representatives.