Staffordshire Police cut hours and front desks in bid to save £1m

The public inquiry counter at Chasetown Police Station will close while Cannock and Stafford stations will open for a combined total of 70 hours fewer a week from October.

Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis said that fewer than 10 people a week were visiting the Chasetown station and plans to open a 'policing post' in its place where officers would hold drop-in surgeries.

Twenty-eight jobs will be axed but Mr Ellis said no one will be made compulsory redundant.

Those who do not take voluntary redundancy will be offered other vacancies within the force.

The cuts will save £1m in staffing costs and a further £190,000 a year running costs.

Mr Ellis said the roll-out of new mobile technology would see more police officers on the streets equivalent to 100 extra officers on the beat.

He said: "People understandably like the idea of most police buildings being open to the public most of the time.

"But policing budgets are reducing as are the number of people physically visiting inquiry desks, particularly in some specific locations.

Leek: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Burslem: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Hanley: 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, 9am to 2pm, Saturday

Cheadle: 9am to 5pm

Uttoxeter: 9am to 5pm

Burton: 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, 9am to 2pm, Saturday

Tamworth: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Lichfield: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Rugeley: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Cannock: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Wombourne: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Watling Street: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Stafford: 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, 9am to 2pm, Saturday

Stone: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Longton: 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, 9am to 2pm, Saturday

Newcastle: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Kidsgrove: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

"Most people want to see more frontline officer time out and about in communities.

"The strategy is exactly that as well as big investment in modern technology to free up officer time while increasing the capacity and capability of policing in Staffordshire.

"The answer isn't throwing more and more money at services but it is about choices and spending the money available on the things that are most important to people. There will still be ample face to face counter services including the ability to formally present documents and other legal requirements, just not quite as many as there are now."

The front desk at Cannock Police Station will now open Monday to Friday 9am–5pm. It was previously open 8am–6pm Monday to Saturday, and 9am-5pm on Sundays.

At Stafford, the desk will now open 9am–6pm on Monday to Friday, and 9am–2pm on Saturday. It was previously open 8am–10pm on Monday to Saturday, and 9am–5pm on Sundays.

Rugeley, Lichfield, Stone, Wombourne, and Watling Street stations will see no reduction in opening times.

As well as Chasetown, the front desk will close at Tunstall and Stoke.

Assistant Chief Constable Bernard O'Reilly, said: "Our aim is to be available to the public where and when they want us to be. Increasingly, this means via the phone, email, in the street or on social media, not behind an enquiry office desk."