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Police forces should reopen station entrance desks to revive public confidence, crime tsar says
- Hampshire Constabulary’s Donna Jones to open ten police stations in 18 months
Police forces should reopen station entrance counters to stop crime and win again public confidence, a policing chief has mentioned.
Donna Jones, the brand new chairman of the Affiliation of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), has revealed plans to reopen ten police stations and set up ‘native bobbies’ in her Hampshire constabulary within the subsequent 18 months as a part of a £2million undertaking to spice up officer visibility.
Greater than half of Britain’s police stations have closed previously ten years at a price of multiple per week, with figures from 2021 indicating fewer than 600 remained open to the general public.
Ms Jones mentioned it was very important this pattern was reversed. She mentioned: ‘Opening up the entrance counters sends a transparent message – there’s a police presence on this group and we’re open for enterprise.
‘Driving up the visibility of police offers a sense of security to the group and in addition has the impact of driving down ranges of crime.’
Donna Jones (pictured), the brand new chairman of the Affiliation of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), has revealed plans to reopen ten police stations and set up ‘native bobbies’ in her Hampshire constabulary
Ms Jones mentioned her specialist ‘native bobbies’ will likely be handpicked from these with ties to the realm and will likely be inspired to share their particulars with communities.
She defined that ‘every one will likely be contactable instantly and they won’t be transferring on after a number of years’, including they are going to ‘be the native officer everybody is aware of’. Ms Jones mentioned she has been in a position to implement these plans with out having to borrow any additional funding.
She mentioned: ‘We now have had elevated police budgets for the final three years, so that is all achievable with merely being financially prudent and prioritising frontline, seen policing.’
Hampshire Police has obtained an additional £16.6million in authorities funding for the interval 2023/24 – a part of a £17.2billion grant bundle for police forces nationwide.
Authorities grants account for round two-thirds of police funding, with the remainder coming from a share of council tax, with elected PCCs in a position to decide how a lot further funding native taxpayers ought to contribute.
Greater than half of Britain’s police stations have closed previously ten years at a price of multiple per week (file photograph)
Devon and Cornwall PCC Alison Hernandez can be planning to open six extra enquiry desks in her constituency by April subsequent 12 months, with one other 4 by spring 2026 as a part of a £1.5million funding.
Ms Hernandez mentioned the reopening the entrance counters would assist make individuals extra assured to method the police to debate points and report crimes.
A House Workplace spokesman mentioned: ‘We’re giving the police the sources they should deal with crime, and thru our police recruitment marketing campaign we now have extra law enforcement officials in England and Wales than ever earlier than.’
