Welcome review of contact with police
SOME good news this week – Lancashire’s new police chief constable has promised to improve policing in rural areas, and look at whether front counters at police stations really needed to close.
As part of cuts pushed through by police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw – new chief constable Chris Rowley’s boss – Waterfoot police station, Rossendale’s last one, ceased to have a manned front counter.
Challenged on these at a recent meeting with councillors, Mr Rowley said: “I haven’t seen any of the documentation about previous cuts in front desks but I’ll give you an absolute assurance that I will look at that.
“I give no assurance that I can reopen stations etcetera but I will have a look at it.”
A review of the decision is surely welcome – perhaps Mr Grunshaw can share the reports he will have commissioned to look at the impact of making local police officers less accessible to the public has had both on crime, and the fear of crime?