Staffordshire Police defend new drop-in centre at gipsy site despite closing front desks
Cash-strapped Staffordshire Police has defended launching a new drop-in service at a gipsy camp - after closing front desks at three stations as it attempts to make budget cuts.
The force confirmed they are using an existing portable building at a traveller site in Linehouses near Kidsgrove to provide a one-hour per month advice service but declared no police funding had been used for the scheme.
In June, police bosses announced front counters would be closed at Chasetown Police Station, as well as Tunstall and Stoke, while opening hours would be slashed at other stations including Cannock and Stafford to save £1million.
Residents near the travellers' site in Kidsgrove have claimed they are getting preferential treatment from police.
Arthur Graham, aged 67, said: "The community are very upset about the closure of Tunstall station. The decision to open a police station in Linehouses is a kick in the teeth to people here."
But the force has reiterated the project was not a 'station' but one of hundreds of drop-in services throughout Staffordshire which was open to everyone and not just travellers on the site.
Chief Inspector Adrian Roberts said: "We are always looking for good opportunities to engage with the local communities we serve and use existing buildings for 'drop in centres' where appropriate to enhance and localise meeting venues for our officers and public.
"The use of an existing building at Linehouses, a long-standing and well established travellers site, is among hundreds of similar neighbourhood policing initiatives across the county of Staffordshire.
"The Linehouses drop-in surgery will be utilised by other partner agencies including education, health and social services as well as the police.
"Some of the other agencies have been holding regular drop in sessions on the site for some time with local police officers frequenting the site on an ad hoc basis.
"The drop in surgeries will provide more consistency and structure to our engagement.
"We hope that this will be more convenient to some local residents and emphasise that this venue is not exclusive to those who live on the site. It is open to any local resident seeking police advice or reassurance or who wishes to raise or report any concerns."
