Police station to cut opening hours
ROYSTON police station is to have its opening hours slashed in the new year. Following a review of operations undertaken at the station, Hertfordshire Police has decided to open the station front counter between 9am-1.30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday,
ROYSTON police station is to have its opening hours slashed in the new year.
Following a review of operations undertaken at the station, Hertfordshire Police has decided to open the station front counter between 9am-1.30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 10am-4pm on Saturdays.
Currently the counter is manned from 8am-10pm seven days a week.
The changes will come into effect during January or February
Bill Davidson, from the Royston neighbourhood action panel, said: "I'm not impressed by this news at all.
"People aren't going to go all the way to the next town if they need to see someone at a police station counter.
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"My opinion is that this is totally unsatisfactory."
A spokesman for Herts Police said: "The programme of changes aims to ensure front desks are open in line with their published opening times, and to ensure that front line officers are not taken off the streets to staff them.
"Nowadays, the vast majority of people contacting police do so by phone, and with the advances in technology in recent years, there are now very few functions that need someone to visit a police station in person."
The spokesman added that on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, when Royston's front counter is not available, Hitchin, Letchworth, and Stevenage Police Stations will be alternatives if anyone has a "pressing need" to visit a police station in person.
"We believe this will help us offer an improved, more reliable, service," she said.
The Royston station was closed for three days this week because of what the police described as "unforeseen circumstances", and it is hoped the new opening hours will avoid this happening in the future.
