Caerphilly MP Wayne David has presented a petition of more than a 1,000 names in a campaign to stop police station closures.
The petition was presented to the Chief Constable of Gwent Police, Carmel Napier, at the Gwent Police Headquarters in Cwmbran.
The petition was collected door-to-door during the recent election campaign and online.
It calls for the Chief Constable to “think again” about her decision to close to the public most of the police stations in Caerphilly County Borough.
The stations will remain as bases for police officers but will be closed to visitors wishing to report crimes in person. The changes will see the loss of 19 front desk jobs across the force.
Gwent Police has said the changes will save it £500,000. Due to budget cuts from the UK Government, the force has to find savings of £34 million by 2015.
Blackwood is the only station in Caerphilly County Borough that will still have a public front desk and will continue to be open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week. Only Newport Central will have 24-hour public access across the force area.
Labour’s Mr David said: “I sincerely hope that the Chief Constable will have second thoughts about her plans for the police stations in the borough.
“Police stations are a source of reassurance in local communities and for the elderly and those living in disadvantaged communities, a fully functioning Police Station is vital.
“Police Stations should be open to the public and have a relationship with local communities. They should not be faceless bunkers.”
I note that Carmel Napier does not do our Member of Parliament the courtesy of appearing in uniform for this photograph. It makes me nostalgic for the days of the South Wales Constabulary. Chief Constable Viv Brooks had more style and much more substance in my view.