Hours extended at police station

A Black Country police station has reopened its doors to the public during the evening following complaints from residents and community leaders.

Opening hours at Wednesbury police station have been extended to allow people to report crimes more easily.

The station in Holyhead Road is usually advertised as being open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

But, even during those hours, visitors were often greeted with the shutters down if officers were deployed elsewhere.

Now, for a trial period until the middle of August, its front desk will be fully open 8am-10pm seven days a week.

It is hoped the move could help to reduce nuisance behaviour which has plagued the town centre.

The trial is being undertaken while extra staff are temporarily moved over from West Bromwich, where internal maintenance work is being carried out but it could become permanent if deemed a success.

It is the latest police base in Sandwell to have its hours reviewed following complaints.

Police chiefs are reviewing the situation at Oldbury station, which has not opened to public inquiries since its £250,000 revamp three years ago, while Old Hill station now welcomes members of the public following a successful trial.

Insp Akeel Najib, based at Wednesbury police station, said: "The new chief constable has come in, and his views are that we need to make resources more accessible to the public, which we have always known.

"The station won't be open to the public overnight but for this period, it will be open until 10pm through the whole of the week. We are meeting with management to look at how we can make the hours longer.

"If people are coming in on their way back from work and so on to report things, then I can put a business case forward to have some extra staff brought in."

Wednesbury North ward councillor Elaine Costigan hailed as "brilliant" for the town to have the station more accessible.