Anger as Thames Valley Police plan to close front desks across the county

The move, which comes after a consultation by Thames Valley Police, will see help desks close at Kidlington South HQ, Bicester and Witney police stations.

The force will also reduce Oxford’s St Aldate’s police station opening hours by two hours and Abingdon station will open from 8am - 4pm from August 30.

Read also: CCTV image released of man who may have information about fire at block of flats

Thames Valley Police says the closures aim to adapt to the different ways people now want to make contact with officers, such as via telephone or online.

But there are fears that sections of the community, such as the elderly or people who do not have internet access, have been forgotten.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) candidate John Howson said he was ‘disappointed’ that the consultation was held.

John Howson, Lib Dem candidate for PCC.20/04/2021.Picture by Ed Nix..

He said: “This was badly thought-through and didn’t look at the needs of the whole community, particularly some of the most vulnerable old people or people who don’t have enough money to have internet connections.

“We know the police don’t have enough resources as they would like, it’s quite understandable, and times move on, but you have to take everybody with you.

“There doesn’t seem to be any thought given about how those people can interact with the police other than by dialling 101 or 999. If there is a need for people to interact with the police then there ought to be a consideration as to how everybody can do so.”

Read also: Backlash over plans for 200 homes

Front counter services usually allow people to report crime, give information about a crime, produce documents required by a police officer, report for bail, leave messages for officers and staff and reclaim seized vehicles.

People used to be able to hand in and reclaim lost property, but this service was recently cut.

Thames Valley Police says there will continue to be ‘good geographic coverage’ of front counters across the Thames Valley.

Bicester Police Station entrance. Pic: Google Maps

Bicester Police Station. Picture: Google Maps

But Liberal Democrat Cherwell District Councillor for Kidlington Katherine Tyson said the closure of physical services is leading to ‘weakening community ties’ between police and residents.

She said: “The closure of the front desk in Kidlington will hit the most vulnerable in our community the hardest immediately, but in the long term the scaling back of essential services will deteriorate trust between residents and the police: the gap between what people expect community policing to be and what is being funded is growing wider.

“The closure of the front desk and the removal of the lost and found services are weakening community ties.

Read also: Oxford's newest pub finally opens after year-long delay

“Keeping a physical desk within reach of the community is vital, and it’s my belief that Government needs to prioritise in-person interaction instead of moving even policing into the virtual realm.”

Thames Valley Police said the changes did not affect police officer numbers or the number of operational police bases, so people should ‘not experience any difference in the ongoing commitment we have to visible policing in our Thames Valley communities’.

PCC candidate Alan Robinson who said he was ‘really devastated’ by the help desk closures, said: “Police stations were the heart of the community. There seems to be an obsession to disengage with the very public that we should be serving. We’ve got to have that engagement. People are very disheartened with the service.”

Witney Police Station. Picture: Google Maps

Witney Police station. Picture: Google Maps

The National Pensioners Convention (NPC) says it is ‘very concerned’ at how many services are being denied to elderly people because of them moving online.

John Paine, secretary of the Oxfordshire NPC Group, said: “Many are also denied online shopping opportunities and access to local services, as well as NHS online delivery of interactive health services. Nearly all banks are also drastically reducing access to banking facilities.”

The force says yellow phones are provided outside front counters, including those which will close, to enable a person to contact police directly and neighbourhood officers also regularly hold Have Your Say sessions in the community to interact with local residents.