WEST Midlands Police will be closing the front desks at both Stourbridge and Halesowen police stations on February 28 in a bid to save cash.

The desks are among 14 police stations to be closed to the public next week, with another 10 to be shut down in the near future, as the service aim to make savings of £3m.

Dudley’s front desk, which was also under threat, is not listed for closure thanks to a campaign from Dudley North MP Ian Austin.

Carl Foulkes, Assistant Chief Constable, said even with the front office closures the police will “continue in its aim to deliver the highest levels of service to its communities”.

He said: “Keeping people safe is the focus of our officers and staff and this is an opportunity to deliver a more consistent, professional service, which may enable more officers to be deployed where and when they are needed the most in our communities.

“West Midlands Police continues in its aim to deliver the highest levels of service to its communities whilst recognising its responsibility to provide value for money seeking modern and effective ways to deliver service in the future.”

The closures follow a 12 month ‘Policing Today’ consultation where more than 7,000 people were interviewed across the police’s 41 front offices with another 320 people sharing their views via an online survey.

Police claim the research showed the vast majority of the public prefer to contact them by telephone.

Stourbridge resident Major Robins, a former chairman of PACT and sector meetings, described the closures as “disappointing”.

He said: “It is a requirement that the front office does stay open as it is needed by police as a point of contact.

“They could have cut the Police and Crime Commissioner as the amount he is being paid would have been an effective saving.”

Other ways of contacting the police include calling 101, commenting on the force’s website, twitter or facebook profiles, emailing a dedicated address, or visiting community meetings and drop in surgeries.

But Pedmore and Stourbridge East councillor Mike Wood said: “When you’re a victim of crime people want to see a police officer face to face – you wouldn’t want to be talking to them over the phone or dropping them an email. To not have a front desk where you can just walk in – that’s a big problem for the local community.”

Nic Barlow, Conservative councillor for Wollaston and Stourbridge Town, said it was sad the front desks will be closed but the police have to “move with the times”.

He continued: “I know the police have got to make savings and keeping the front desks open are not cost effective.

“It is sad that the front offices will close, but as long as police still make staff available for contact then it’s something that unfortunately has to happen so not to waste taxpayer’s money.

“The good thing is the stations will still be staffed by police so at least they are not being closed completely.”

After hearing the desk at Dudley station was under threat of closure, Dudley North MP Ian Austin launched a campaign to keep it open.

He started a petition, which soon gained more than 2,000 signatures and presented it to the government’s Policing Minister Mike Penning in Parliament.

Mr Austin said: “West Midlands Police have now announced dates for front desk closures but Dudley Police Station is not listed. This is an encouraging sign and I will be working even harder to raise opposition and try and keep the station open.”

A spokesman for West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioners office said Mr Austin had run “an incredibly strong campaign” and the future of the Dudley station was being looked at “very carefully”.