Police in post offices as Scotland Yard axes 65 stations across London
From urban adversity to an interesting reflection on a possible innovation in rural policing. I wonder what the prospect of building the outreach potential of local police forces and at the same time underpinning the viability of local post offices is? This article tells us:
The decision to cut the number of police stations open to the public comes after research showed the public were not visiting front desks to report crimes. Figures show that 80% of visits to front counters in police stations are to 71 out of 135 counters and that fewer than 50 crimes a night are reported in person at police stations.
The mayor’s office is expected to announce later on Wednesday which 65 police stations are to close. The plans are to go out to public consultation for eight weeks.
Greenhalgh said the public would be able to meet police officers in other places such as supermarkets or libraries. The use of post offices as a base for officers was being pursued, he said.
“The Post Office has benefited from a lot of capital money from government to keep branches open. We are in the process of developing a pilot scheme to see if it would work with the post office counter providing a fixed point on the high street where people could hand in lost property, could carry out transactions like purchasing licences and for very simple crime reporting.”
Whilst still on the theme of uniformed services I am still waiting with bated the breath the outcome of the review of the decision to scrap the Nottinghamshire Police Horse team, instituted by the new Police and Crime Commissioner – I have very fond memories of going to see those horses at Wollaton Park as a boy in happier economic times with my Grandad. I firmly believe the positive public enthusiasm they generate is worth the modest cost of keeping them, perhaps some PR/Comms resources could be cut instead…..