Police station opening hours

Report: 6
Date: 9 November 2000
By: Commissioner

Summary

This paper provides background information on the opening hours of police station front counters for Metropolitan Police Stations and Police Offices.

A. Supporting information

Background

1. The subject of police station closures is an emotive one and many misconceptions prevail. This paper attempts to clarify the key points about public access to Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) police stations and police offices.

2. First, it is important to understand what is meant by these terms: 'police station' generally refers to a police building which has a front counter service to which the public have access 24 hours a day; 'police office' refers to one with restricted opening hours. Front counters may be staffed by police officers or civil staff.

3. It will be understood that the Metropolitan Police Estate is in a constant state of change, with some police stations and offices opening and others closing each year. This is owing to both an ongoing programme of building and re-building and to senior management team decisions made at local level.

4. Since April 2000, the boundaries of the Metropolitan Police District have been aligned with those of the Greater London Authority. As part of the re-alignment process, nineteen police stations and offices transferred from the Metropolitan Police Service to the surrounding county constabularies. Appendix 1 lists these transferred stations.

5. Appendix 2 shows those police stations and offices that have closed or reduced their front counter opening hours in each of the last four years. A total of seven have closed during 2000.

6. Each Borough has at least one police station with a front counter open to the public 24 hours a day. In addition, most Boroughs also have at least one police office providing a front counter service for the public for part of the day. In total, of the 132 police stations and offices with a front counter service, 74 (56 per cent) are open 24 hours a day, 22 (17 per cent) are only closed at night, 18 (13.5 per cent) are open during office hours and 18 (13.5 per cent) have further restrictions on opening. In each of the Boroughs of Brent, Camden and the City of Westminster, there are four stations that are open 24 hours. Appendix 3 shows police stations with 24 hour front counter opening and police offices with restricted opening hours.

Who decides on front counter opening hours?

7 It is for the 32 Borough Commanders - all of Chief Superintendent rank - to decide on the level of front counter service offered to the public. This is an informed decision based on supply and demand, the availability of police or civil staff to provide the service, and activity analysis of the number of members of the public who avail themselves of the facility.

8 On 31 October 2000 the MPS was under budgeted strength by some 333 police officers and 829 civil staff. In recent months this has prompted a review on several Boroughs of the feasibility of providing a front counter service for all or part of a day. Where levels of usage have been low (for example, one or two callers during an eight hour night duty), Borough Commanders have typically entered into a public consultation process, involving key stakeholders and the local media.

9 When the closure or restricted opening of a front counter service has been proposed, the choice has often been between posting a police officer for an eight hour tour of duty to front office duties (where he or she is visible to a few members of the public), or to patrolling the streets (visible to many more). This choice has also to comply with Best Value principles.

10 It is a moot point whether the presence of a police officer or member of the civil staff performing front counter duties reduces the chance of crime being committed in the vicinity. In point of fact, many police buildings that have no public access are used as bases for operational officers, both uniform and plain clothes.

11 In all cases where front counter facilities have been withdrawn a free 24 hour telephone service has been provided at the relevant police building, with a direct link to the local police control room. This ensures that members of the public are still able to speak to a police officer or member of the civil staff at all times.

Current position

12 Current MPS policy is that there will be no front office closures for the time being, other than for building works, without the authority of the Assistant Commissioner (Territorial Policing).

13 There have been proposals for volunteers to staff police station front counters and feasibility studies are currently being undertaken. For example, a pilot scheme is proposed in Harrow.

B. Recommendations

Members are asked to note the content of the report.

C. Financial implications

There are no specific financial implications in this report.

There would, however, be financial implications if all police station front counters were to be staffed 24 hours a day.

Also, it is important to realise that closing or reducing a police station front counter leads merely to a re-deployment of the staff involved; it does not actually save money.

D. Review arrangements

There are no specific review arrangements for this report.

E. Background papers

None.

F. Contact details

The author of this report is Inspector Chris Lester, MPS.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Appendix 1

Metropolitan police stations transferred to provincial forces as a result of boundary changes on 1 April 2000

Transferred as a result of boundary changes

• Ashford
• Banstead
• Borehamwood
• Bushey
• Cheshunt
• Cobham
• Debden
• East Molesey
• Epsom
• Esher
• Limes Farm Office
• Loughton
• Potters Bar
• Radlett
• Shenley
• Shepperton
• Spelthorne
• Sunbury
• Waltham Abbey

Appendix 2

See supporting material

Appendix 3

Territorial policing: MPS police stations open to the public

Summary

1 All boroughs have at least one station open to the public 24 hours.

2 In total, 74 (56 per cent) of the 132 police stations/offices in the MPS are open 24 hours, 18 (14 per cent) are open office hours, 22 (16.5 per cent) are open early turn and late turn (closed night duty) and 18 (13.5 per cent) have further restrictions on opening.

Compiled by Insp Chris Lester. Updated 31 Oct 2000.

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback