Witney News - Proposed rescheduling of Police Station hours

Proposed rescheduling of Police Station hours

At a recent Cabinet meeting West Oxfordshire District councillors sent out a clear message to Thames Valley Police that they did not agree with their new proposal to reduce the front desk opening hours at Chipping Norton Police Station.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Cabinet Member for Community Safety said, "We welcome the proposal that the reduction in front desk staff will mean more visible policing, but are very concerned that this is resulting in such a huge reduction in opening times. We understand that this is not a consultation process and that the police intend to implement the new hours next month. We are formally asking them to put this decision on hold until there is a full review."

Local councillor Eve Coles who was present at the meeting said, "I attended a meeting in Chipping Norton to discuss this issue with the police and realized that a decision had already been made. A lot of elderly people come into Chipping Norton from the surrounding villages and this will affect them. I am sure they prefer going to a police station and talking to someone face to face rather than by phone."