Ilfracombe Police Station Front desk to close
By Ilf_Peeps | Sunday, December 19, 2010, 16:34
The Front desk at Ilfracombe Police Station has been earmarked for closure as part of nationwide Police cutbacks.
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Ilfracombe Police Station front desk is to close...
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And the enquiry officer will be replaced with a wall phone
The move has been justified by the reasoning that advances in technology mean that most people now contact the police via phone or the internet, and having a person stationed at the desk is not an effective use of police resources.
Our nearest Station with a manned front desk will now be in Barnstaple, as desks in Bideford, Braunton, Combe Martin, Woolacombe and Lynton are also set to close.
The person at the enquiry desk will be replaced by wall phones and an appointment system.
An Ilfracombe resident told us "I am sick of not being able to have any face-to-face contact with a human being these days. People are being more and more replaced by machines and you are having to go further away and wait longer to see someone who can help you. In my opinion the personal service to the public is suffering."
Another supported the closure saying "With so many people in the public sector losing their jobs, I would rather see a police presence out on the streets than officers being stuck behind a desk. I would choose for them to lose their job rather than a bobby on the beat every time."
According to the BBC News website the closure is part of a cost-cutting exercise as "The force has said it needs to make savings of £47m over four years." Ilfracombe People reported last week on the detrimental effect David Cameron's Big Society was likely to have on our local libraries and now the impact on our town of further public service cutbacks is becoming apparent.
What effect will the closure of the Police front desks at Ilfracombe and the surrounding areas have on you? Is it a smart way for the force to save money or a great loss to our community? Have your say below!
Comments
The reason is, sailorgirl99, is because the British government has a complete contempt for all English people. It panders to the Scots, the Irish, the Welsh and the whole of Europe. It cannot do enough for all the countires which have never lifted a finger to help us. But it will do nothing for the English taxpayer that underwrites everything. It won't even let you put English on the census form next year, although ithose from those provinces will be able to put 'Scots' or 'Welsh'. I don't know why the government despises the English so much. Any suggestions?
By ROOMATTHETOP at 00:51 on 20/12/10
ReportI hate all the government cutbacks, why do we bail out banks etc? And other countries at the expense of our own!
By sailorgirl99 at 19:32 on 19/12/10
ReportThe police station should be in the High Street, not in a hideous block up the hill at Princess Avenue. I suggest one of the closed shops ought to house someone who can take enquiries. It would also bring the police nearer to the public. Wth memory sticks, etc., there is no need for large buildings to keep filing cupboards in.
By ROOMATTHETOP at 17:48 on 19/12/10
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