Hours reduced for second time at three major police stations

THREE OF the largest police stations in North Yorkshire are to cut their opening hours for the second time in two years, in the latest blow to public access to the force.

The front counters of police stations in York, Scarborough and Harrogate will close at 8pm instead of 10pm each day from Monday. Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan said visitor numbers were “getting fewer and fewer, especially in late evenings”.

The move is designed to save nearly £150,000 a year from police budgets.

The stations had already had their hours cut two years ago, when they began to close their front counters at 10pm rather than midnight.

Mrs Mulligan said she had accepted the recommendations from Chief Constable Lisa Winward to make the latest changes.

She said: “With the changing nature of policing, and the way many of us now live large parts of our lives online, it is inevitably affecting how the public interact with the police.

“This is something the police are still getting to grips with, and a lot more needs to be done to improve access to policing online and improve customer service, both of which are part of my police and crime plan.

“These changes are already having an impact on the numbers of people visiting police stations, which is getting fewer and fewer, especially in late evenings.

“Our front counter team provide an excellent service, but it does not make sense for them to be staffing the front counter when they’re rarely being used.

“I am sure taxpayers will agree that there are better ways we can use the £150,000 expected to be saved.”

Public desks at police stations have faced severe cut-backs in the wake of dwindling police budgets, and with many forces experiencing severe problems with their non-emergency 101 lines, there are concerns the police are becoming increasingly hard to contact.

Two years ago, North Yorkshire Police reduced opening hours at stations in Malton, Selby and Tadcaster as well as York, Harrogate and Scarborough.

Last year, neighbouring West Yorkshire Police closed police stations at Bingley, Keighley and Killingbeck in Leeds, with officers moved to other facilities nearby.

It also closed public help desks at six stations – Weetwood, Morley, Lawcroft House in Bradford, Eccleshill, Shipley and Ilkley – while reducing opening hours at many others.

In South Yorkshire, Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Billings warned in March that unused police stations could be sold off, with local officers moved to share accommodation with other public sector colleagues, as the force looked to operate more efficiently and effectively.

And Humberside Police changed the front counter opening hours at nine stations earlier this year, with many being reduced but some being extended.

In May, Home Secretary Sajid Javid was quizzed about police station closures at a conference held by the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers.

Officers said they were having to travel greater distances by car, sometimes while responding to calls, because of the closures.

Mr Javid said he understood the issues but didn’t “have a magic wand”.