Petition against plans to close police stations

Just under 160 people have so far filled in a questionnaire about controversial plans to shut a string of police stations across the West Midlands overnight.

The force wants to shut 12 stations – including Wednesfield, Dudley, Stourbridge, Halesowen and Bloxwich – between 6 and 10pm and redeploy staff to contact centres or front line duties.

The proposal is part of the battle by West Midlands Police to save £126 million over the next four years in a bid to manage government cuts in funding.

A public consultation into the plans was due to come to an end by December 31 but bosses have now extended the time people have to put forward their views until January 15.

New figures released by the force today show 10 people have emailed to have their say and 1,410 people have visited the website to read about the plans while 157 have filled in the questionnaire about access to services.

Two protest petitions with a total of nearly 4,000 signatures urging a rethink have also been handed into police chiefs at a meeting into the plans.

Bosses said once the consultation is finished they will consider all feedback balanced against the results of their analysis of demand levels in order to be able to make a final decision.

Officials say a number of people have raised concerns that the change in opening hours will mean the closure of the station which they say is not the case.

Assistant Chief Constable Sharon Rowe said: "We want to reassure people that nothing is changing to where officers work from and that these proposed changes will not impact on the way we work with local communities."

Dudley North MP Ian Austin has handed in a 2,000-strong petition, pleading for Dudley police station to be spared.

Another petition with 1,900 signatures calling for Bloxwich police station to stay open 24 hours a day and supported by a letter from Walsall North MP David Winnick has also been presented to officers.

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