POLICE front counter services are set to leave Sherborne and Gillingham as part of a shake up of how people can contact the force.
The counter services provide a place for the community to raise non emergency concerns. But these services in Sherborne, Gillingham, Poole and Bridport will transfer to Bournemouth, Blandford and Weymouth on Saturday (October 4) to provide three main access points.
The counter services in the four towns will remain open only for officers, staff and volunteers to work from and access.
The move comes as Dorset Police says a review found that the public “prefer to contact us online and in the heart of neighbourhoods at community contact points.”
Some residents reacted strongly to the news.
One said: “You’re saying people would rather have this than their own local police station? Don’t believe that for one minute, it’s a cost cutting exercise. Simple as that.”
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Dorset Police announced last month that it is rolling out mobile police stations that will tour parts of the county to offer a chance for members of the public to raise any concerns about anti-social behaviour as well as providing a place to chat to officers about any other crime-related concerns.
The force’s western vehicle will come to the Cornhill Market area in Dorchester on the first Tuesday of each month, followed by Sherborne Co-op at Westbridge Park on the first Thursday of the month.
Bridport Morrisons will also be visited on the second Tuesday of the month, followed by Marine Parade in Lyme Regis on the second Thursday, the main beach car park in Swanage on the third Tuesday and finally Streche Road car park in Wareham every third Thursday of the month.
Meanwhile the eastern vehicle will visit Sainsbury’s Ferndown on the first Tuesday of the month, followed by Verwood Memorial Hall on the first Thursday, the Allendale Community Centre in Wimborne on the second Tuesday, Shaftesbury Lidl on the second Thursday, Christchurch retail park on the third Thursday and finally Highcliffe Cliff Top car park on the third Thursday of the month.
Aren’t you not supposed to mix with the police as part of community by shutting the stations won’t promote that cost cutting and when the Internet crashes what do we do then disgusting no thought or asking what people want 🤔