But reductions for rest of the county

HERTFORDSHIRE police have confirmed there will be no cuts to Royston Police Station’s opening hours or front enquiry service in the county shake-up.

Cuts have been made across the board over the past few weeks, with stations in Baldock, Potters Bar, Bushey and London Colney closing completely.

But Royston station was amongst six that retained its front enquiry service, with seven others, including Letchworth and Hitchin, losing theirs.

Chair of Hertfordshire Police Authority, Stuart Nagler, explained why the cuts had been made, but confirmed reductions would not be made in other areas: “Demands for front enquiry services have fallen in recent years with the advent of new technology and the increase in the number of alternative ways to contact the police. We believe we can save over �500,000 a year, which can be put into our other frontline services.

“Of the 20 remaining police stations, 11 will retain a front enquiry office facility – that’s at least one in each district and borough council area. But I want to make it quite clear to the public that no community will see a drop in the numbers of police officers and PCSOs allocated to their local policing as a result of these decisions. Nor will they see any changes in the emergency response service.”