Police station closures

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FIN/25/002767/L

 Version Date: 07/02/2025

The Estates Department and the Call Management and Communications Department have provided the following information.

1. Between 2014 (or the earliest year from which data is held) and 2024, how many police stations have closed in your force?

11

2. 
   Of the police stations that were closed, how many had front counters open to the public?

 All the police stations closed in question 1 had enquiry offices.

3. 
   Between 2014 (or the earliest year from which data is held) and 2024, how many police stations have opened in your force area?

0

4. 
   Of those police stations that were opened, how many had front counters that still remain open to the public?

Not applicable.

Based on the personal knowledge of relevant parties now e.g. individual(s) responsible for the force’s estate and/or front counter services:
5.         Where stations with front counters closed and were either closed completely or not replaced by a new station with a front counter, what was mainly the rationale for this?
a.         to reduce costs/save money
b.        lack of use by the public
c.         the availability of alternative services e.g. online

The reasons for closing front counters were partially to reduce costs due to national demands on public services and in some circumstances outer stations had significantly reduced footfall activity, due to alternative options for contacting and reporting to the police.

These reasons are echoed in news articles on this subject.

6. 
   Does your force have any plans to close front counters in the future? YES/NO. If yes, why (please select from options above).

Information not held.

7. 
   Does your force have any plans to open front counters in the future? YES/NO.  If yes, why (please provide a short description).

Information not held.

 A police station is defined as any building where officers and staff are permanently based.