West Midlands Police plans to cut station opening hours

Concerns have been raised about proposals to reduce public opening hours at 12 police stations across the West Midlands.

Under the plans, front offices at nine stations would no longer be open 24 hours a day.

The force is also going to consult on reducing opening hours at three others.

Councillor Waseem Zaffar, from Birmingham, said: "It's another cut, it's totally unacceptable."

'Substantial investment'

The nine stations where the front offices would no longer be open around the clock are: Handsworth, Aston, Harborne, Kings Heath, Bloxwich, Stourbridge, Halesowen, Wednesfield and Willenhall in Coventry.

Stations where the front desks would operate on reduced hours would be Dudley, Foleshill and Chelmsley Wood.

Three Labour councillors from different authorities have voiced concerns.

Mr Zaffar, from Birmingham City Council, said that crime in the area had been falling and one of the reasons was because "we've had substantial investment into the police in recent years".

Dudley councillor Tim Crumpton said crime had fallen due to an increased police presence.

Coventry City Council member Ram Lahka said it was "detaching the service from local people".

'Over the phone'

The West Midlands force has to save £126m over the next four years.

Deputy Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: "I must stress that nothing is changing to where officers work from and these changes will not impact on the way we with work with local communities.

"The majority of people now contact us over the phone or via email and would simply never want to set foot in a police station."

The force will begin a public consultation process on the proposed changes from Monday.