Liberal Democrat councillors in Bath have voiced their concern following the announcement that the police enquiry office in Bath will be closing at weekends from the start of September.
Avon and Somerset Police announced last week that their enquiry office, based at the One Stop Shop on Manvers Street in Bath, would be closing at weekends and have reduced hours for the remainder of the week from Monday 3rd September.
Alongside ‘improvements’ in the police estate and the need to make significant savings, police say the changes ‘reflect the low footfall’ in some areas at certain times of the day.
Lib Dem Group Leader, Councillor Dine Romero, commented: “This is a worrying announcement. A further reduction in access to face-to-face police inquiry services, following the closure of the police Station in 2014, will not be welcomed by Bath residents and visitors.
“Many people are already concerned about crime rates and police presence locally.
“The government’s real terms cut in funding is clearly forcing the police to cut services to balance budgets and prioritise neighbourhood policing.
“One further concern is the long term future of the inquiry office. Once the Conservative plans to move the One Stop Shop into Bath Central Library are complete, what will become of this service?
“As of now, there is no space indicated on the new library plans for a police desk.”
When the police station closed, councillors were promised same opening hours at the One-stop shop. Bath needs a police presence in city centre. @bathnesld https://t.co/pK8iHNfrgm
— Andrew Furse (@AndrewFurse) August 18, 2018
In a statement provided last week, Avon and Somerset Police said their “priority is to have enquiry offices across the area open at times that our communities need them and neighbourhood police officers will continue to work in their local communities, as they do now”.
Bath area commander, Chief Inspector Steve Kendall added: “Keeping our neighbourhood police officers in the heart of the community they serve is our priority and these plans will not make any changes to these officers.
“We know the role of the enquiry office is important in our communities and our main enquiry offices in Bath and Keynsham will continue to be open at the times when we receive the most visitors, supported by the enquiry office in Radstock.”
The changes to enquiry offices and police stations in and around Bath include:
Bath – Manvers Street One Stop Shop
Current opening hours: Monday – Sunday, 8am – 8pm
New opening hours: Monday – Friday, 10am – 6pm
Radstock – Wells Road Enquiry Office
Current opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, 10am – 2pm
New opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10am – 2pm
The enquiry office at Keynsham’s police centre will retain the same opening hours, Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm.