Lancashire Constabulary and the Police Authority are consulting on recommendations to close some front counters within Police Stations across the county. Inspector Alison Barff will be attending the meeting to outline the recommendations and to pass any feedback from the Forum into the consultation process.
What it the purpose of this item?
A review has been undertaken based on the footfall at these counters, and found that 81% of the total footfall of visitors across the county is catered for by just 17 of the front counters. The remaining 21 are dealing with only 19% of the overall footfall and are therefore recommended for closure. More information on locations can be found on the Lancashire Constabulary website - http://www.lancashire.police.uk/policing-budget.
A consultation on these recommendations is launched on 1 July and will run for 12 weeks, after which final decisions will be taken.
Inspector Alison Barff can be contacted by e-mail on
Minutes:
Inspector Alison Barff-Lewis attend the Forum to inform its members that following a review Lancashire Constabulary and the Police Authority were consulting interested parties on the recommendations to close some front counters within police stations across the County.
Members of the Forum were advised that Lancashire Police had to find £42 million of savings over the next four years. Over £38 million of savings had already been agreed. As a result, 800 posts would be lost, two thirds of these would be police officers and one third police staff, mostly from back office or support functions. The reduction in posts would be managed mainly through voluntary redundancies, ill health, early retirement and non recruitment.
They were now looking closely at police premises and in particular whether to close some of the less frequently visited front counters and police buildings. The review which had been undertaken was based on the footfall of these counters, which found that 81% of the total footfall of visitors across the county catered for by 17 of the front counters. The remaining 21 were dealing with 19% of the overall footfall and were therefore recommended for closure.
A consultation on the proposed recommendations was launched on 1 July which would run for 12 weeks, after which a final decisions would be taken.
In response to concerns raised, Inspector Barff-Lewis reassured members of the Forum that through its review, it was found that a number of police premises identified for possible closure were not open to the public, and many of those premises that were currently open to the public had their cells decommissioned some time ago. Presently a custody suite in Leyland was operational, however, this had also been identified in the review for possible closure. If the Leyland premises closed those in custody would have to be transported to Preston or Skelmersdale. Members of the Forum were reassured that prisoner transport would also be considered as part of the review.
In response to concern raised by members of the Forum, Inspector Barff-Lewis reassured members that there were numerous methods for someone to contact the police in place already (other than at the police stations) and that these would remain the same, and that the Emergency SMS” (E-SMS) project, was an update of type talk that allowed people who were deaf or had hearing impairment to report emergency incident.
Inspector Barff-Lewis advised that every department, process and procedure would be considered as part of the review to ensure sure a more business like approach. At the moment crime and anti-social behaviour in this area was on the decrease, however, should this trend reverse procedures would be put in place to address the increase.
Councillor Murfitt stated that the reduction in workforce would mean increased work loads, pressure and a reduced work life balance.
Inspector Alison Barff Lewis can be contacted on Alison.Barff-Lewis@lancahsire.pnn.police.uk.
Should you require to recall someone using Type Talk (facility to assist the deaf/hard of hearing) ring 0800 731 1888 and an operator will assist or email – Lancashirepolice@lancashire.pnn.police.uk