Front desks at police stations close to public
THE shutters are coming down on the front desks of police stations across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.
By the end of the month only two stations in South Wales Police's western division will have public access — and only one of those will be available 24 hours a day.
The move is part of a cost-cutting programme by the force — but the most senior officer in the division has said he remains committed to neighbourhood policing.
Over the past year Cymmer, Pontardawe, Gorseinon, Mumbles and Morriston police stations have axed their public access.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Wednesday, May 22 2013
Cockett in Swansea and Port Talbot will lose their front desks at the end of September, leaving just Swansea Central and Neath open to the public — Swansea around the clock and Neath from 8am to midnight.
Chief superintendent Mark Mathias said: "If I had the choice I would keep the front desks open — but the fact is we haven't got the money.
"We have got to use our resources as efficiently as possible.
"Police officers will still be working from the stations but we cannot keep the front desks open — I want to be very upfront with people about that.
"I know the public reassurance of having staff available is important but, to be honest, if it comes down to a simple business case, stations would have been closed years ago."
Last year it was revealed that prior to closing the front desk at Morriston police station, just three people had walked in off the street over the course of a weekend — but the desk still had to be fully manned.
Mr Mathias said there were other ways people could meet their local officers, from Pact meetings to surgeries, community visits and innovative schemes such as the one on Gower where PCSOs travel with the mobile library service to rural villages.
The chief super added he remained committed to neighbourhood policing and that more PCSOs would soon be hitting the streets across the division.
He also said he was putting more investment into areas such as child protection, domestic violence and dealing with serious offenders.
jason.evans@swwmedia.co.uk
01792 514605
Comments
by shepherd2011
Monday, September 10 2012, 1:50PM
“We are all paying for RICH BANKERS MISTAKES and the Government are all ex rich bankers PLEASE DONT VOTE... YOU VOTE THEN COMPLAIN...”
by chelsea1955
Monday, September 10 2012, 12:40PM
“What a disgrace, why are we paying for the Police in our rates when there is NO service, maybe we the PUBLIC should think about holding back part of our rates if we all stick together they cannot jail us all ( then again will they find any Police officers to lock us up)”
by watchdog12360
Monday, September 10 2012, 12:23PM
“Again not a ..... murmur from our 'NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE' elected servants.
Mmmm....Why don't they fill these posts with specials, 'YOU KNOW' United Kingdom's part-time police force made up of thousands of volunteer members of the public who when on duty wear a uniform and have full police powers. You know the ones you see outside most primary schools at closing time these days making sure we are all SAFE and parking in the right spaces while picking up our kids. 'YES,THOSE'!
Also, what happens when someone has been arrested and charged with an offence and given 'Conditional Bail'? There will usually be a time delay before your case is heard in court. During this time very often the person/s to keep us all SAFE have to report to a police station at specified times each week or in some cases each day. What do these people do, sent the Police an email???
I smell something bad here and it not D.. S... Its smells more of a 'COMMON PURPOSE' by South Wales Police not to 'keep us SAFE' but to 'keep them SAFE'.”
by susiqzz
Monday, September 10 2012, 12:01PM
“"....if you are being attacked by a mad ax-man....please dial 1..."”
by Stork
Monday, September 10 2012, 11:49AM
“Pretty soon, all communications with the police will have to be via computer. I can see the picture now. You log on, tell the police you're being strangled by a complete stranger, in your own home, and the police computer response is, " are you sure ?"”
by siarad2
Monday, September 10 2012, 10:44AM
“Even more of the isolationist police attitude.
We don't see them on the streets, take half an hour to respond to 999 calls & now block public access.
Still they enjoy those shiny cars to whizz by in, missing all & those offices are so cosy & warm.
When we had far less police every village had it's two in houses linked by an office & we saw them out & about.
Where are these new legions of police hiding.”