Gwent Police will close 17 of its stations to the public – including those in Caerphilly, Bargoed, Rhymney, Ystrad Mynach, Bedwas and Risca.
The stations will remain as bases for police officers but will be closed to members of the public.
The controversial plans to close the stations were agreed at a meeting of Gwent Police Authority last week.
It comes as the police force has to find savings of £34 million by 2015 in light of public sector cuts by the UK Government.
As part of the closure programme, which will save £500,000, Gwent Police held several consultation exercises.
Assistant Chief Constable Simon Prince said: “We have listened very carefully to what they public told us. More than 1200 surveys were completed at 29 events throughout Gwent.
“They show that people understand our financial situation. Once we explain that the same number of officers and community support staff will be working at each of the 17 affected locations in future, and that we are not closing services, but opening up more choices for contact, we received community support for the move.”
Caerphilly MP Wayne David, who has been a vocal critic of the plans since they were first mooted in March this year, denounced the closures and described Mr Prince’s statement as “absurd”.
He said: “If they had genuinely listened to what people were saying, they would have not decided to close the doors of 17 stations to the public.
“The so-called public engagement exercise has been a charade. Gwent Police decided some months ago to close to the public 17 police stations without any consultation whatsoever. Following that decision they embarked upon a public relations stunt to attempt to justify their earlier decision. The public deserve more honesty and openness from the police of all people.”
Gwent Police has said it will buy two new mobile police stations in addition to the three it currently operates. The mobile stations will be used for an increase in the number of regular police surgeries.
Police officers’ mobile numbers will also be published to allow the public to call then directly.
Front counter service at Caerphilly, Bargoed, Rhymney, Ystrad Mynach, Bedwas and Risca will gradually cease alongside Abertillery, Alway, Bettws, Brynmawr, Caldicot, Chepstow, Maindee, Monmouth, Pill, Pontypool and Tredegar.
Front counter service will continue to be available at Abergavenny, Blackwood, Cwmbran and Ebbw Vale, between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week. Newport will remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Once again Mr David has launched into a completely out-of-touch and un-justified critical sound-bite just to maintain his role of critic of the Gwent Police Force. All we have to wait for now is Mr Sanderson to support Mr David – nothing like following the party line.
Once again, without any stating any alternatives to the requirement that the Police Authority and Chief Constable reduce the spending on all facets of the policing in Gwent because of the economic mess he and his party left this country in, he has shown the perfect example for the whole electorate of Gwent to reject any political intervention in the Police and Crime Commissioner elections this November.
It is a real question – Where was Mr David and ‘his’ candidate Mr Sanderson during this – the most important meeting of the Police Authority for the year. Well as someone – the only member of the public at this meeting – I made it my responsibility to attend this meeting, like many others I have attended so I am fully aware of the actions of the Police Authority and their intentions so that if successful in the elections in November I will know exactly what is done to confirm or change the plans laid out so that they reflect the wishes of the electorate of Gwent who have contacted me or read my web site at http://www.chris4gwentpcc.co.uk and agree with my vision for our local police force.
Can Mr David and Mr Sanderson note the Gwent Police Federation comments – these service withdrawals are force upon us – do not blame the Police Authority or Gwent Police!
The blame for these decisions lay directly at the door of the politicians who are degenerating into using the police cuts for their own political purpose yet it is they are to blame.
Next thing Mr David and Mr Sanderson and their workers will calling at your door stating that a vote for them will give Cameron and his cronies a bloody nose.
Just before offering them your vote ask yourself … do I trust these people after what they have already done to the banks, the NHS, the ambulance service and the fire brigade.
Is there a real alternative – Yes there is and my web site tells you why it is me
We no longer have a police force,instead we have a serious crime squad who respond after the event,and who of course rely on the public to give them the information to do their job. If it wasn’t so serious it would be laughable.
I’m not often in the town centre. But what is that new office doing there ? Is it open or closed ? There is a lot of sense in coming from tbe “outskirts”, but what is the purpose of this new office ? It would be sensible of it was a replacement for the old district council offices.