North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Julia Mulligan, and Chief Constable Dave Jones have today published changes the opening times of police station front counters.
The changes are designed to take into account the different and changing ways people access police stations. Consequently, extensive research was conducted into why and when people visit police stations. The findings have shown that:
- the average number of visits to police stations per day ranges from just one at small stations to 64 at larger stations
- only one in 20 crimes are reported at a police station (eight per cent of total visits)
- 21 per cent of visits are general customer enquiries
- 71 per cent of people visit for an appointment, to hand in documents, are custody or property related
The move is currently projected to save £300,000 in its first year, and £330,000 in each subsequent year.
North Yorkshire Police say the savings will be invested in more police officers and PCSOs.
Although official front desk opening times are changing, all stations will operate a new ‘When we’re in, we’re open’ policy. This means that if officers or staff are in the building they will answer the door to anyone who wants to call for help or advice. This means that the public should never again have the frustrating experience of knowing people are in the police station, but not getting a response.
The proposed changes are as follows:
Main stations
(Main station sites have a local population of more than 10,000 AND more than 10,000 visitors per year)
| Main station | Current opening times | New opening times |
| York | 8am to 12 midnight seven days a week | 8am to 10pm seven days a week |
| Scarborough | 8am to 12 midnight | As above |
| Harrogate | 8am to 12 midnight | As above |
| Northallerton | 8am to 8pm | 8am to 8pm (unchanged) |
Large stations
(Large station sites have a local population of more than 10,000 AND more than 2,000 visitors per year)
| Large Station | Current opening times | New opening times |
| Selby | 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday | 9am to 5pm (Monday to Thursday)
9am to 4.30pm (Friday) |
| Skipton | 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday | As above |
| Malton | 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5pm (Monday to Thursday)
8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm (Friday) |
As above |
| Richmond | 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday | As above |
Medium stations
(Medium station sites have a local population of more than 10,000 AND fewer than 2,000 visitors per year)
| Medium Station | Current opening times | New opening times |
| Ripon | 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday | 9am to 12.30pm (Monday to Friday) |
| Knaresborough | 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday
9am to 4.30pm Friday |
As above |
| Whitby | 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday
8.30am to 4.30pm Friday 10am to 2pm Saturday and Sunday |
As above |
| Thirsk | 9.30am to 1pm Monday to Friday | As above |
| Catterick | 8.30am to 12noon Monday to Friday | As above |
Small stations
(Small station sites have a local population of fewer than 10,000 AND fewer than 2,000 visitors per year
| Small station | Current opening times | New opening times |
| Pickering | 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30 to 5pm (Monday to Thursday)
8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm (Friday) |
9am to 12.30pm (Monday to Friday) |
| Filey | 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm
|
As above |
| Tadcaster | 9.30am to 12 noon | As above |
| Eastfield | 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30 to 5pm Monday to Thursday
8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm Fridays |
As above |
| Stokesley | 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30 to 5pm Monday to Thursday
8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm Fridays |
As above |
| Bedale | 9.30am to 1pm | As above |
Volunteer-run stations
| Volunteer-run station | Current opening times | New opening times |
| Acomb police station | Monday 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 2pm to 4pm Wednesday 6pm to 8pm Thursday 6pm to 8pm Friday 2pm to 4pm Saturday 10am to 12pm
Closed on Bank Holidays.
|
Unchanged |
| Eggborough police station |
Monday 10am to 3pm Tuesday 9am to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm Wednesday 9am to 1pm Thursday 1pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm Friday 9am to 4pm Saturday 2pm to 5pm
Closed on Bank Holidays. |
Unchanged |
| Leyburn police station | Flexible opening hours, staffed by volunteers. Access is also available by appointment.
|
Unchanged |
| Sherburn in Elmet police station | Monday 10am to 12pm
Tuesday 2pm to 4pm Wednesday 6pm to 8pm Thursday 6pm to 8pm Friday 2pm to 4pm Saturday 10am to 12pm
Closed on weekends and Bank Holidays.
|
Unchanged |
The new front counter services are due to be implemented from May 2016.
Julia Mulligan, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, said:
I am sure there will be some people who object to the changes being made to police station opening hours and I can understand their views. However, we must remember it’s bobbies not buildings that catch criminals and the significant savings we are making here will help us increase the number of police officers and PCSOs in local communities.
Front counters of police stations will now be open slightly less, but still available each day for the public and no stations are closing. I have also introduced a new policy of ‘When we’re in, we’re open’. This is in response to people saying they cannot understand why the police won’t come to the door, if someone knocks outside of official opening times.
All in all, these savings make a significant contribution to the investment we are making in police officer and PCSO numbers without affecting the public to a great extent.
Chief constable Dave Jones said:
The amended opening hours reflect a detailed analysis of current demand for this type of service whilst also allowing us to continue to invest money where the community has said we should – that is, providing more Police Officers and PCSOs.
It also ensures we will still provide a convenient counter service with our ‘when we’re in, we’re in’ policy, whilst we also seek to provide a more convenient range of online services in the future.
