‘Hub’ talks for council and police (From Evesham Journal)

‘Hub’ talks for council and police

2:00pm Thursday 19th July 2012 in News

FRONT counter services at Pershore police station could merge with Wychavon District Council.

West Mercia Police says it is in talks with the council about using a “hub” at the Civic Centre in Elizabeth Drive similar to Evesham Community Contact Centre.

It is not known if the move would result in job losses or the closure of Pershore’s station to the public.

In February, West Mercia approved plans to cut the opening hours of front counter services at its Worcester, Malvern, Droitwich and Pershore stations.

At the time, Chief Constable David Shaw described the move as a “stepping stone” towards more “colocation deals” between the force and local authorities.

Vic Allison, deputy managing director at Wychavon district Council, said: “We are looking into the possibility of sharing a front desk with Pershore police station, as we do in Evesham.

“It wouldn’t see a reduction in opening hours and would provide a more comprehensive joined up service to the public, while providing efficiency savings for us all.”

A police spokesman said the talks were in “early stages”.

Evesham Community Contact Centre opened in 2003 as a partnership between the district council, county council, town council and West Mercia Police Authority.

The Abbey Road centre acts as a front desk in terms of calling for an officer, fixed penalties and reporting lost or stolen property, as well as benefits information, housing advice, council tax payments, Job Centre Plus and trading standards.

A spokeswoman at Wychavon said it was too early to say how the move would provide efficiency savings and when it would be implemented, if it were to go ahead.