Views sought on police help-desk cuts

When a ‘consultation’ is launched it usually means someone’s decided to change things, but to save taking flak, they’re asking the public for their opinions.

Of course the public being generally indifferent and unresponsive they can then claim that the half dozen who responded (generally in favour) indicates the public are overwhelmingly in support of the planned changes.

This time it’s Cheshire Constabulary – asking for the public’s feedback on plans to have helpdesks at five police stations across the county.

Of course this could mean the closure of the police stations involved.

Leaving aside the fact that the police are really uninterested in getting involved in what we used to call crimes, we’re advised that there are currently 16 help-desks – which have varying opening hours, open on various days – and thus are seldom used.

Surprising or what?

Were also being told that more people now choosing to contact the police in different ways – no doubt that inter-web thing.

The fact that in an emergency or having been victim of a crime we’d like to actually speak to a copper cuts no ice as “the Constabulary is working to ensure the service it provides meets the changing needs of the public.”

Under the new proposals a helpdesk service would be provided at Macclesfield police station – along with several others across the county.

The help-desks would be open between 8am and 5pm from Monday to Saturday.

All of which we have to assume means the closure of Macclesfield Police station with the substitution of a cubilce/phonebox with which we can interact with a virtual policeman.

Assistant Chief Constable Bill Dutton said: “Firstly I would like to reassure the public that these proposals will not reduce the level of service or the current police presence in Cheshire. Our operational teams and where we deploy our police officers and police community support officers from are unaffected.”

“Since helpdesks were introduced in 2004 the landscape has changed significantly. A large proportion of the population have mobile phones and access to online services meaning the need for face-to-face contact is reducing.

“We have noticed that more people than ever are now choosing to report crime and interact with police online or via a mobile device, and as a police service we have to adapt to these changes in our society.

Once again the poorer, less-able, less techie, more vulnerable – probably the most likely to be the victims of crime – have been left high and dry.

ACC Dutton continues: “It is important to reiterate that we are not proposing to close any police stations, and although some help-desks would close under these proposals, these will be substituted by regular Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) surgeries.

So they’re not proposing to close any police stations but some may close?

“The savings we make will be reinvested into our force contact centre, helping improve our response times in answering 999 and 101 calls, which is a key priority for the Constabulary.

“This investment will also support our work in dealing with online enquiries, which we are seeing more and more of with the advancement of technology.

“However, it is really important we hear from our communities about these proposed changes and I want to encourage people to feedback to us during the consultation process.”

It’s probably futile, but if you would like to have a say on the proposals please visit https://wh1.snapsurveys.com/s.asp?k=164432458930

Think on, we’ve recently agreed to the police precept increasing yet again, which means your council tax will rise yet again – but Cheshire Constabulary is already talking about what are in effect cuts.

The consultation is open from 14 February until 27 March 2022.

Anyone wanting to report a crime, incident or looking to seek advice from the police can do so by visiting www.cheshire.police.uk or by calling 101.

In the case of an emergency or threat to life, always dial 999 – you never know – you may have a police officer respond!