More police contact points closed in cutbacks

The enquiry desk in Wath shut a month ago leaving the Main Street police station in the town centre as the only place where people can report crimes in person.

But South Yorkshire Police say the slashing of public contact points across the county from 19 to six would not affect services and would be better value for money.

A spokeswoman said: “The changes aim to provide an efficient and effective service to the public, providing value for money for local taxpayers, besides saving the force about £500,000 a year.”

Asst Chief Constable Andy Holt said: “Our research showed that most of the enquiry desks received very few visitors and, indeed, one desk had only one enquiry in a week.

“New technology has meant fewer people having to produce documents at enquiry desks and the public has shown that they wish to contact us by other means—telephone or email.

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“And during the August riots elsewhere in the country, hundreds of local people also contacted us via social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Mr Holt added that the remaining six enquiry desks would be streamlined, operating on a more structured basis, with set hours and regular staffing, and said that people who wanted face-to-face contact with an officer, could make an appointment.

On November 4, the force is to adopt 101 as its new non-emergency number, replacing 0114 220 2020.

For more information on the opening times of enquiry desks and other ways of contacting the police, visit the ‘contact us’ page at the www.southyorks.police.uk website.