FOLLOWING a campaign by the local council for improved communication, the Police and Crime Commissioner has confirmed a new police enquiry office will be opening in Liskeard.

A number of Liskeard councillors who have been in support of a new front desk for a number of years are “happy to hear” that the voices of local residents have been heard saying that a front desk will  “benefit local people”  and “enable better links between the police and public.”

The locations of four more police enquiry desks to be opened by Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner was unveiled on Friday, February 2, as Alison Hernandez presented her next budget to police and crime panel members.

Ms Hernandez’s project to create an additional 18 police enquiry offices (PEOs) around the force area has so far seen 13 open their doors to the public.

The commissioner presented her plan to accelerate this, which aims to reopen a further four in the next financial year.

A new PEO will open in Liskeard as well as Exeter city centre, Tavistock and Ivybridge.

The projects were due to be delivered over two financial years but this has been compressed, with all four due to re-open before April next year.

The locations selected have been chosen using a rationale of public demand, financial feasibility, and operational policing necessity.

Liskeard central councillor Nick Craker said: “Liskeard has called for this front desk to reopen for some time, it will mean a great deal to the Liskeard community and enable better links between the police and public.”

Cllr Simon Cassidy, mayor of Liskeard, added: “I’m extremely happy to hear that the voices of the people of Liskeard have been finally heard as the police announced an enquiry office will be installed at Liskeard police station. So many people have been campaigning for this for so many years. We look forward to seeing this dream become a reality soon.”

Cllr Julian Smith from Liskeard town council has been working with a number of local councillors for a many years to support a new front desk, saying that it will be “a great move” for the town and will “help the police keep Liskeard safe”.

Cornwall Councillor for Liskeard South and Dobwalls, Cllr Jane Pascoe, added: “Liskeard Police Station serves the wider rural area beyond Liskeard. 

“I am so pleased that there will be the facility of a front desk at the police station.”

Once the desk is operational, residents are encouraged to the facility “in order to retain it long into the future” Cllr Pascoe added.