Dozens using police stations facing night closure

More than 60 people a night enter five police stations in the Black Country set to close for up to 16 hours a day under cost-cutting plans, it emerged today.

A total of 12 stations in the West Midlands are in line to close overnight as the force tries to save £126 million over four years. Bloxwich, Dudley, Stourbridge, Halesowen and Wednesfield are set to be affected in the Black Country.

Figures released today by West Midlands Police show that while on average about 1.9 people an hour visit the front offices of the 12 stations, busy bases such as Bloxwich deal with an average of 31 people per night.

A public consultation into the proposals, which will see stations close their front offices between 6pm and 10am, was launched today.

Read the full story in the Express & Star.