You only have to look at the crime increase when Boris closed police stations to know this is a bad idea. I just don’t believe manning these desks is the huge, unaffordable cost they claim it to be. Take a few officers off a protest and you’ve probably paid for it.
I still think “least worst” is a crime in itself, surely it should be “least bad”? “Worst” means “most bad”, so the least worst option is the least most bad option?
Actually the least worst option would be to keep them open but have them manned by the latest arrestee, on a revolving basis.
Genuine question, what is the point of police counters?
I’ve never had the need to use one and don’t see why anyone would bother walking to a police station to report a crime vs dial 999/101 or do it online?
This just feels like another example of cutting accessibility under the guise of efficiency. Front counters are important for victims of crime, especially those who might not feel safe reporting things online or over the phone
Supposedly, the decision on which front desks to close is being made based on where the most crime is reported.
This ignores that the front counter is most obvious and approachable link between the community and the police. Below is a list of just a few things I’ve known a front desk to be used for in my 10 year career:
– A place to report missing persons, and subsequently receive updates on them
– A place to drop off lost property
– A place for police officers to return recovered property to the owner
– A place for those on bail to sign on
– A place for people fleeing violence to seek refuge, be they victims of domestic violence, trafficking, or just being chased down the road by a mentalist
– A place for a cab driver to come to when they have a problematic fare
– A place for wanted people to hand themselves in
– A place for foreign visitors to complete various paperwork (I recall stamping lots of forms for various foreign students)
– A place for the elderly, mentally ill, or otherwise vulnerable to come for a face to face interaction with police
– A place for the homeless to seek refuge for the night (We’re not supposed to let the homeless stay in the front office, but I’ve never kicked someone out if they aren’t causing issues)
– A place for strangers to buy and sell stuff without getting robbed (I.e. Facebook marketplace sales and such)
Front desks are invaluable, and I refuse to believe that the savings that will be made by getting rid of them will be worth the loss of service they provide their community. Sure some desks are less busy than others, and perhaps they don’t report as many crimes as other avenues such as online reporting, but the other stuff they do is irreplaceable and largely unmeasurable.
Exactly that. A police station with a closed door is just an office.
7 comments
The Met and Khan are clowns
You only have to look at the crime increase when Boris closed police stations to know this is a bad idea. I just don’t believe manning these desks is the huge, unaffordable cost they claim it to be. Take a few officers off a protest and you’ve probably paid for it.
I still think “least worst” is a crime in itself, surely it should be “least bad”? “Worst” means “most bad”, so the least worst option is the least most bad option?
Actually the least worst option would be to keep them open but have them manned by the latest arrestee, on a revolving basis.
Genuine question, what is the point of police counters?
I’ve never had the need to use one and don’t see why anyone would bother walking to a police station to report a crime vs dial 999/101 or do it online?
This just feels like another example of cutting accessibility under the guise of efficiency. Front counters are important for victims of crime, especially those who might not feel safe reporting things online or over the phone
Supposedly, the decision on which front desks to close is being made based on where the most crime is reported.
This ignores that the front counter is most obvious and approachable link between the community and the police. Below is a list of just a few things I’ve known a front desk to be used for in my 10 year career:
– A place to report missing persons, and subsequently receive updates on them
– A place to drop off lost property
– A place for police officers to return recovered property to the owner
– A place for those on bail to sign on
– A place for people fleeing violence to seek refuge, be they victims of domestic violence, trafficking, or just being chased down the road by a mentalist
– A place for a cab driver to come to when they have a problematic fare
– A place for wanted people to hand themselves in
– A place for foreign visitors to complete various paperwork (I recall stamping lots of forms for various foreign students)
– A place for the elderly, mentally ill, or otherwise vulnerable to come for a face to face interaction with police
– A place for the homeless to seek refuge for the night (We’re not supposed to let the homeless stay in the front office, but I’ve never kicked someone out if they aren’t causing issues)
– A place for strangers to buy and sell stuff without getting robbed (I.e. Facebook marketplace sales and such)
Front desks are invaluable, and I refuse to believe that the savings that will be made by getting rid of them will be worth the loss of service they provide their community. Sure some desks are less busy than others, and perhaps they don’t report as many crimes as other avenues such as online reporting, but the other stuff they do is irreplaceable and largely unmeasurable.
Exactly that. A police station with a closed door is just an office.
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