Welshpool’s Police Station is one of seven in Dyfed-Powys to close to the public, and it will be replaced by a twice weekly mobile station located in Tesco Car Park.
And in another move aimed at saving money, major police services will be integrated with civilian hubs like the Tourist Information Centre or the Town Hall.
Police say the move will enhance and not hit services and have pledged to maintain a consistently high level of policing despite having to slice £13.5 million off their budget. Residents we spoke too were not so sure.
“You have got to be joking?” was the response from one shopper we spoke to this afternoon at Tesco and “whatever next for rural Wales?” was another.
But Chief Constable Jackie Roberts explained in a prepared statement that: “I would reassure people the changes we have made are designed to maintain and improve our service offering, while protecting front line resources and staff as far as possible.
“During these times of austerity it is even more important that the public, police and partner agencies support and work together to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour to help keep our communities safe.”
A date has not been set for the start of the new service, but when it is introduced the mobile police station will be located at Tesco from 10am-2pm on Tuesday and Thursdays.
Dyfed-Powys Police has also not revealed where Welshpool’s Public Information Point (PIP) will be located but in other towns losing their stations they will be in Town Halls or Tourist Information Centres. These PIPs will be used for handing in lost property, producing documents and accessing general information about policing services.
Residents are still urged to dial 999 in an emergency or 101 in for non-emergencies.
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