Police forces must reopen station front counters to prevent crime and win back public confidence, a policing leader has said.
Donna Jones, the new chairman of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), has revealed plans to reopen ten police stations and install ‘local bobbies’ in her Hampshire constabulary in the next 18 months as part of a £2million project to boost officer visibility.
More than half of Britain’s police stations have closed in the past ten years at a rate of more than one a week, with figures from 2021 indicating fewer than 600 remained open to the public.
Ms Jones said it was vital this trend was reversed. She said: ‘Opening up the front counters sends a clear message – there is a police presence in this community and we are open for business.
‘Driving up the visibility of police gives a feeling of safety to the community and also has the effect of driving down levels of crime.’
Donna Jones (pictured), the new chairman of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), has revealed plans to reopen ten police stations and install ‘local bobbies’ in her Hampshire constabulary
Ms Jones said her specialist ‘local bobbies’ will be handpicked from those with ties to the area and will be encouraged to share their details with communities.
She explained that ‘each one will be contactable directly and they will not be moving on after a few years’, adding they will ‘be the local officer everyone knows’. Ms Jones said she has been able to implement these plans without having to borrow any extra funding.
She said: ‘We have had increased police budgets for the last three years, so this is all achievable with simply being financially prudent and prioritising frontline, visible policing.’
Hampshire Police has received an extra £16.6million in government funding for the period 2023/24 – part of a £17.2billion grant package for police forces nationwide.
Government grants account for around two-thirds of police funding, with the rest coming from a share of council tax, with elected PCCs able to determine how much additional funding local taxpayers should contribute.
More than half of Britain’s police stations have closed in the past ten years at a rate of more than one a week (file photo)
Devon and Cornwall PCC Alison Hernandez is also planning to open six more enquiry desks in her constituency by April next year, with another four by spring 2026 as part of a £1.5million investment.
Ms Hernandez said the reopening the front counters would help make people more confident to approach the police to discuss issues and report crimes.
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘We are giving the police the resources they need to tackle crime, and through our police recruitment campaign we have more police officers in England and Wales than ever before.’
