Black Country police stations set to close to public see hundreds of people per day

West Midlands Police is closing front desks across the Black Country to save money but has justified the move by saying there was 'little demand' from the public for front desk services during the evening and overnight.

However, campaigners say official footfall figures show there is still a need for police station front desks in town centres, with some seeing as many as 393 people over the periods they were monitored.

It translates to average rates of one person every 15 or 20 minutes when the stations are open. However, police say in some cases the same person will be counted more than once, such as when someone reports for bail.

Today Dudley North MP Ian Austin said it showed there was still a need for a police station to be open to the public in the town.

Dudley alone, which is only open from 10am to 6pm, recorded 134 people over a 40 hour period, equivalent to 3.4 people per hour.

The station is due to be closed while West Bromwich, which sees 3.3 people per hour, will see its hours reduced from 24 hours a day to operating from 8am to 10pm.

Mr Austin said: "These figures show that Dudley is a busy police station and just as busy as stations elsewhere.

"We've been given a stay of execution but we have to step up our campaign if we are going to keep it open."

Low Hill station in Wolverhampton, which is to be a volunteer run contact point, saw just one person turn up in seven and a half hours of monitoring.

Tipton, Old Hill, Wednesbury, Wednesfield, Aldridge, Halesowen and Stourbridge are all due to close this weekend, February 28.

In total 27 police station front desks have been earmarked for closure, leaving just nine open from 8am to 1pm and one open 24 hours a day.

Old Hill police station, which is facing closure, also saw just over one person an hour, 26 in total over a 24-hour period of monitoring. It is currently open 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

Wednesbury police station, also facing closure, saw an average of 1.5 people per house, 37 over 24 hours of monitoring.

Willenhall police station saw 44 people over 40 hours and is due to be closed.

Aldridge saw 47 people over 40 hours while Wednesfield saw 59 over 40 hours.

Stourbridge and Halesowen saw 63 and 64 people respectively over 40 hours.

Meanwhile Bilston police station saw 105 people over 40 hours, equivalent to two or three every hour, yet is facing having its front desk closed.

Walsall, which is also losing its front desk, saw 313 people over 120 hours, again equivalent to two to three every hour.

Brierley Hill police station front desk will stay open, but with reduced hours, and saw 326 people over 120 hours.

Bloxwich saw 341 people over 70 hours and will stay open.

Smethwick saw 393 people over 120 hours and is having its front desk closed.

Wolverhampton's main police station in Bilston Street will drop from 24 hours of front desk service to being open from 8am to 10pm.

Assistant Chief Constable Carl Foulkes said: "The decision to close front offices has not been taken lightly and followed a year-long review speaking to our communities to gain a detailed understanding of the service we provide and thoroughly analysing footfall.

"The simple fact is front offices are hugely underused and cost the taxpayer millions each year to keep open. Nothing will change to the local delivery of policing - local neighbourhood teams will continue to patrol and be very much a part of their local community.

"Like all other forces, we have to continue to reduce spending and ensure taxpayers' money is spent on the services which matter to them most. We need to ensure we offer a service that is relevant to people in their daily lives."