A new police enquiry office for Bath has opened inside B&NES Council’s One Stop Shop in Manvers Street, following the closure last week of the police station opposite after its sale to the University of Bath.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Bath & North East Somerset Council have been working together to establish the new police facility at the authority’s One Stop Shop.
From 21st December, police enquiries will be handled there and not at the police station.
Open from 8am-8pm every day, the new facility will provide the same services currently offered at the old police station enquiry office.
This includes:
- Crime reporting
- General policing enquiries
- Road traffic collision reporting
- Applications for firearms licences
- Crime prevention advice
- Lost and found property
The police’s foreign national registration service offered at the police station has also moved to the One Stop Shop from 21st December.
As a condition of visiting the UK, certain foreign nationals are required to register with the police in the area they are living within seven days of arrival.
More information about all the public services available at the Bath One Stop Shop can be found on the council’s website at www.bathnes.gov.uk/contact-us/bath-one-stop-shop.
Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said: “I am delighted that the new police enquiry office in Bath has officially opened.
“I believe the One Stop Shop is a visible and friendly location for local residents to access the police.
“The police and I have always been committed to ensuring a real policing footprint in Bath and I have no doubt that the move will maintain the service the city’s residents and visitors have always received.”
Councillor Martin Veal, the council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services said: “Bath & North East Somerset Council is looking forward to welcoming local police services into the Bath One Stop Shop, continuing our aim of providing local residents with joined-up services from a variety of public and voluntary sector partners, all based in one convenient location.”
Work on creating a new base for Bath’s neighbourhood policing and response teams on two floors of Redbridge House in Midland Road has also been completed, with officers moving in on 16th December.
Just one mile away from the current station, the police centre will not be open to the public but will be used by officers to attend briefings at the start and end of their shifts.
It also has one interview suite – to be used solely to question people who have volunteered to be interviewed.
While in the city centre, officers will also have access to desks at the One Stop Shop.
Following the moves to Redbridge House and the One Stop Shop, the police station will be handed over to the University of Bath in January.
Local Policing Area Commander for Bath and North East Somerset, Chief Inspector Kevin Thatcher said: “The new enquiry office will give the public the chance to engage with us in a more welcoming environment and at a location where they can also access a range of other services.
“The enquiry service offered at the new facility will not differ from what is currently available at the police station.
“By co-locating with the council, we are able to reduce costs and also modernise the way we work.
“Police operations are very much remaining in Bath and our service will not be disrupted by these moves.”
