Police station front desk KO a 'disgrace'
Kirsty Gibbins • Published 2 Feb 2012 09:28
3 Comments
PRESTONPANS Police Station will close to the public as part of a cost-saving shake-up of station opening hours across East Lothian.
Lothian and Borders Police plans to save £77,243 by closing Prestonpans station to the public and reducing the opening hours of Tranent and Dunbar police stations' front desks.
The 18-member Lothian and Borders Police Board gave the green light to the proposals at a meeting in Livingston on Monday - despite East Lothian councillors Peter MacKenzie and Stuart MacKinnon and two Midlothian councillors voting against it.
Mr MacKenzie (SNP), vice-convenor of the police board, said: "Closing counters is a way of disengaging from the public. The closure will contribute to a raising of public fear of crime.
"While I acknowledge there are very few people who use these facilities, I know people in Prestonpans value the facility. It is important that people realise that the station will still be the base for the local police."
The proposals were first revealed in October and, following a request by the police board, a public consultation was carried out. Surveys were made available online and via public counters. The results found a low number of respondents considered front desks their first port of call when seeking police assistance, preferring to report crimes by phone.
Supt Phil O'Kane, East Lothian Area Commander, said: "Following a period of review and consultation the police board has approved a number of changes to the opening hours of police stations across East Lothian.
"These changes, made as a consequence of demand and geographic location, will allow us to provide a more consistent and sustainable service to local communities. I must stress that while these changes mean we are closing the front counter services at Prestonpans, there is no intention to close any police station.
"My officers will continue to perform duty from all of the police stations in East Lothian. Members of the public will still be able to contact the police from all our police stations by utilising the contact phones which are located at the front door of the premises."
A police spokesman stated a date for closure was still to be confirmed.
A survey of the usage of the six police stations in East Lothian was carried out last year. On average, the daily usage of the stations was: Prestonpans - four visitors/five phone calls; Tranent 4/5; Haddington 8/17; North Berwick 9/7; Dunbar 8/5; Musselburgh 11/23.
There are currently two police staff members employed at Prestonpans.
James Yule, chair of Prestonpans Community Council, branded the decision a "disgrace".
He said: "The only consultation we had was three months ago when we were told the police were going to consider sharing opening hours between Tranent and Prestonpans. That was the last we heard.
"Why should Prestonpans be the one to close if it has identical usage to Tranent? The police station is central to Prestonpans and there are a lot of OAPs who depend on that station. It's a disgrace."
Under the changes, public counter provision at Tranent will be Monday to Friday, 10am-6pm - shaving £3,967 from the station's annual £29,045 front desk costs - and in Dunbar, opening hours will be reduced to 10am-6pm, Monday to Friday, saving £15,185. North Berwick police station public counter, which currently costs £25,478 annually, will be cut to 10am-6pm, Monday to Friday.
However, Mussel-burgh and Haddington stations' hours will increase to 8am-4pm Monday, 8am-11pm Tuesday-Friday and 10am-6pm on Saturdays.
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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Socialist
Unregistered User
Feb 2, 11:43
Report commentJust a suggestion why do they not move it into the local COOP, they already have the local post office or better still the local council office, we talk often about shared services why not shared premises.
Recommend?
Yes 4
No 9
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Socialist
Unregistered User
Feb 7, 10:16
Report comment -
Sealion
Unregistered User
Mar 2, 01:23
Report commentThe make up of the Lothian & Borders Police Board is made up of the majority of councilors are City
of Edinburgh Councilors who are not realy bothered about policing in East Lotthian,all they are
bothered about is Edinburgh,that is where they get there votes from,so they are not bothered about
the voters of East Lothian .
As far as they are concerned East Lothian and other rural parts of Lothian that is Hill Billy country,not
as sophisticated and affluent as the City of Edinburgh,so do not need 24/7 maned police
stations like the big city.
That is the way they view things when it comes to policing outside Edinburgh,so when it comes to
votes they stick together no matter there political party affiliations,just like for example the proposed
closure of the Sheriff Court in Haddington,that is the way the councilors from Edinburgh opperate when comes to securing cash for themselfs,they can and do out vote the rest of the board
members without any problem as they have the majority of councilors on the board,that is the way it is and that is the way it will remain in there favour when it comes down to the vote.
Recommend? Yes 1
No 0
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