Anger over police station opening hour cuts

Apr 26 2012 by Jack Abell, Buckinghamshire Examiner

PLANS to cut police station opening hours have been met with disappointment from people living in Buckinghamshire.

Last week it was announced Amersham police station is set to have its hours slashed from eight hours per day, five days a week, to four hours a day five days a week, while Chesham police station will be open from 10am until 2pm three days a week, down from the five days per week it is currently open.

In Gerrards Cross, meanwhile, the station will only be open three days a week and four hours per day, as Thames Valley Police looks to make £60,000 of savings this year.

Charles Brainer, 59, of Chiltern Avenue, Amersham, said: “Amersham police station is particularly badly affected, as the station is basically having its opening hours halved.

“Having a police station which is open all day is an important thing for a town like Amersham, so to have it cut so drastically is bad news.

“I’m sure people will see less and less of the police in the future.”

People in Chesham shared the same concerns.

Mitesh Singh, 46, of Lynton Road, said: “They seem like big cuts. People want to know they can contact the police easily, and it makes them feel safer having a police station open regularly.

“I know everyone is trying to save money, but I’m sure that people are not going to be happy and will really notice the change.”

In Gerrards Cross meanwhile, people are starting to get behind an idea to put a small police office in the centre of the village.

Gemma Allison, 32, of Camp Road, said: “I think the police station for Gerrards Cross is a little bit out of the village as it is, so I don’t think people will notice it as much here as they do in other places.

“I do think that putting an office or some kind of base in the village would work really well though.

“It would make it much easier to engage with the police, and it would mean that we see a lot more of them as well.

“I think lots of people would support that if the idea ever comes of anything.”

Supt Steve Hockin, commander of the Chiltern and South Bucks Local Policing Area, said: “The visibility and availability of police officers to attend incidents is not affected by front counter opening times.

“Your neighbourhood teams will still be out patrolling the same areas they do now and will retain their local bases.”

l What do you think of the changes? Email our letters page at bucksnews@trinitysouth.co.uk.