Closure of Police Station Enquiry Desks to be scrutinised

Posted on: 24th June 2014

At the meeting of the Panel on 20 June 2014, Cllr Sue James moved that the scrutiny topic should be “The Police and Crime Commissioner’s joint announcement with the Chief Constable in respect of Devon and Cornwall Police Public Contact strategy – Station Enquiry Offices Rationalisation”.

In plain English, the panel will look at the evidence used to decide to keep locked most Police Station front doors in Cornwall. The Panel agreed that this was the most urgent matter to be looked into.

If the plans go ahead, the only Police stations in Cornwall that will have the front door unlocked, Monday to Friday between 9 a.m and 5 p.m. are Camborne, Truro, Bodmin and St Austell and Newquay in the summer months. This is to make a proposed saving of £750,000.

Devon would keep police station doors unlocked in Exeter, Plymouth and Torquay Monday to Friday 8 a.m. till 6 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. In addition, Devon would keep the doors unlocked at Barnstaple and a 2nd police station in Plymouth 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Cllr Sue James would welcome your views in the survey, before the Panel meeting to review in October 2014. If you can give evidence of problems it will cause if Penzance Police Station has locked doors then email Sue James.