THE Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is planning to open more police station front desks – and wants the public to help decide their locations.

Six police enquiry desks are opening this financial year after Commissioner Alison Hernandez committed to invest in some of those which closed almost a decade ago.

She said: “Front desks are ideal places for residents to report crime, get advice on crime prevention or victim services and connect policing to local communities.

“When not dealing with people face to face police enquiry officers are able to deal with non-emergency email contacts, reducing pressure on the force’s 101 service.”

The first round of openings has seen Newton Abbot, Tiverton, Penzance, and Truro front desks re-open last week, with Bude and Falmouth stations due to re-open in early 2023.

Now the Commissioner has detailed a set of criteria for deciding which ones open next, with public support one of the determining factors.

She is asking the public to give feedback in a survey which runs until the new year.

“Early feedback from communities where police enquiry offices have re-opened have been extremely positive,” the Commissioner said.

“Crimes have been reported, a vulnerable missing person given shelter and assistance and crime prevention information handed out.

“The project has so far created 26 part-time police enquiry jobs and helped ease the pressure on police contact centres by enabling more people to meet an officer or police member of staff in their community.

“I know more communities would like to see their police stations re-opened to the public and I am absolutely committed to delivering more openings.

“Public support was a vital component in deciding the first locations for this investment, so now I’m asking people to let me know which stations they would be most likely to use if their front desks were re-opened.”

The other criteria which will determine which police offices re-open are:

  • Feasibility– whether the level of investment needed to bring the space back into use is reasonable, whether planning permission is required.
  • Impact on the station – such as having to relocate a policing team
  • Location and distance – geographic location and distance to next nearest open front desk.
  • Population size – in terms of resident population and anticipated seasonal increases.

For details of address and opening hours of the 15 police front desks already open in Devon and Cornwall visit www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/contact/police-enquiry-offices