New police opening hours from today (From Evesham Journal)

New police opening hours from today

3:30pm Wednesday 1st August 2012 in Evesham By Sarah Davies

CHANGES to the opening hours of front counters in Worcestershire police stations have come into effect today.

Cuts to the times when people can visit police stations at Worcester, Malvern, Pershore and Droitwich were approved by West Mercia Police Authority in February as part of a force-wide overhaul.

Pershore is the most affected, opening to the public for 20 fewer hours per week. The front counter will now be closed on Saturdays and open from 4pm to 8pm on Thursdays.
 

At Worcester’s Castle Street station, the front counter will open for eight hours fewer a week. The main change is reduced hours on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Front counter opening hours at Malvern police station will also reduce by eight hours a week, closing on Mondays and opening later into the evening Tuesdays to Thursdays.

Meanwhile, Droitwich’s front counter will open for 18 fewer hours per week. It will be closed on Mondays but will open later on Thursdays.

The shake-up will also see counters opening later in the evenings some days. Police stations will still be staffed for the same amount of time, just not visibly open to the public.

Ch Supt Trevor Albutt said: “The change to public service counter opening times will not affect local policing and all police stations will remain operational.

“We want to make sure we offer a good service to the public and be as accessible as possible. Visiting your local police station service counter in person is not the only way to get in touch with us.

“West Mercia Police is available 24 hrs a day, seven days a week via a variety of contact channels.”

Where opening hours have been reduced, alternative services will be provided including telephone links outside police stations and information stands.

Local policing teams can be contacted via e-mail, voicemail, at events and surgeries, Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meetings and via diary appointments, which can be arranged at stations.

For non-emergencies dial 101 or visit westmercia.police.uk for more information. The force can also be followed on Facebook and Twitter.

New opening hours

Worcester
Existing - Mon - Sun 8am - 10pm
New - Mon - Sat 8am to 10pm, Sun and Bank Holidays 10am - 4pm

Malvern
Existing - Mon - Fri 8.30am - 4.30pm, Lunch 2pm - 3pm, Sat 9am to 4pm
New - Mon closed, Tue/Wed/Fri 10am - 6pm, Thu Noon - 8pm, Sat 10am - 4pm, Lunch 2pm - 3pm (Tue-Fri)

Droitwich
Existing - Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sat 9am - 5pm, Wed 8am - 5pm
New - Mon closed, Tue/Wed/Thu 10am - 6pm, Thu Noon - 8pm, Sat 10am - 4pm, Lunch 2pm - 3pm (Tue-Fri)

Pershore
Existing - Mon - Sat 9am - 5pm
New - Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 10am - 4pm, Thu 4pm - 8pm