AS part of a bid to save £10 million over the next three years, front counter services at police stations in Swindon and across Wiltshire are set to be slashed.

Wiltshire Police has been carrying out a comprehensive review of the force’s front counter services.

Part of the review analysed the number of people who visit front counters and found eight out of 10 visits were made during normal office hours, a spokesman said.

"Based on this evidence, and the need for us to reduce our costs, we have decided to adapt our front counter service opening hours to match the demand from our public," he said.

"The new front counter service opening hours will be introduced by November 30 and more information will be published in advance of the changes.

"We also want to take the opportunity to align our opening hours with those of our council partners, where we share a building and front counter services."

The new front counter opening hours from November 30 will be:

Melksham Police Station - 8.30am-5.30pm, Monday to Friday

Chippenham, Monkton Park - 8.30am–5.30pm, Monday to Friday

Trowbridge Police Station - 8.30am–5.30pm, Monday to Friday, 9am–1pm, Saturday

Salisbury, Bourne Hill - 8.30am–5.30pm, Monday to Friday, 9am–1pm, Saturday

Marlborough Police Station - 9am–5pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays (closed from 12.45-1.15pm), 9am–12.30pm, Wednesday

Swindon Gablecross - 8.30am–5.30pm, Monday to Friday, 9am–1pm, Saturday

Swindon town centre - 9am–5pm, Monday to Friday, Watt Tyler House

Superintendent Gavin Williams said: “Our officers are already embracing new ways of working using up-to-the-minute technology which is taking them out of the office and into the hub of the community.

"This is not just a technological shift but a cultural one too.

"More and more we’re bringing our services to the public rather than expecting them to come to us.

"People are seeing our officers in libraries, coffee shops and council offices, using laptops, tablets, and other mobile devices which allows them to carry out their day-to-day tasks when they’re out and about, remaining visible and accessible to the public.”



People who want to contact Wiltshire Police any time, day or night, can ring 999 in an emergency, 101 for non-emergencies, or visit www.wiltshire.police.uk to access links enabling them to submit a general enquiry, make a complaint, or lodge an enquiry under the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme.

He said Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) would continue to be visible in their local communities and take part in a range of community engagement activities including holding regular drop-in-sessions, community beat patrols, attending Area Board Meetings and Locality Meetings with local councillors where they can share information and gather feedback.

NPTs are also able to make appointments on an individual basis with people when appropriate, to discuss specific issues, he said.

Supt Williams added: “Changes to our opening hours form part of a strategic review of our estate which is designed to ensure that we are able to meet our commitment to reducing our costs whilst maintaining the highest level of public services to our local communities.

“It’s estimated that these changes will save the Force in the region of £218,000 a year, a significant saving which will contribute to the overall £10 million that we are required to save by 2018.”

Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said: “In my Police and Crime Plan I promised that we would invest in mobile technology to enable officers to spend most of their time out and about and visible in their communities rather than tied to a computer in the police station.

"That technology is now being rolled out.

“To have five enquiry offices open for business during normal office hours and three of those open on Saturday mornings as well seems to me to be a good service at a time of austerity for those people wishing to have face-to-face contact.

“We are also catering for people who want to use their phones to call us, and those with smart phones or tablets who want to contact us online.”

What do you think? Are the changes necessary when the force needs to make savings? Or will they have a negative impact on the police's ability to fight crime?

Whatever your view, use the form below to let us know...