MORE than 20 community police stations in Essex are likely to shut to the public and all 24-hour stations could face reduced opening times, a police chief has announced.

Under plans to save Essex Police about �2.5 million the front counters at many police stations across the county will be scrapped or opened to the public for a shorter time.

Essex Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle said that a consultation with the 170 front-desk staff who would be affected by the plans had officially started yesterday.

He could not say at this stage how many staff faced being made redundant under the changes or how many stations would close completely.

“It is crucial for residents to understand that even when a front counter service desk is closed, officers in many cases will still use the building as a base,” said Mr Barker-McCardle.

“Officers will continue to be available on patrol 24-hours a day, regardless of whether the front office is open.”

It is likely that the nine 24-hour stations in the county, including Colchester, Braintree and Clacton, will have their hours cut and be open to the public between 8am and midnight, seven days a week.

A further 16 stations, including Halstead, Maldon and Witham, will offer reduced opening times of noon to 6pm, and the front desk service at 21 stations will close completely.

Many of the community police stations in Colchester and Tendring are among those facing closure to the public such as West Mersea, Wivenhoe, Copford, Ipswich Road, Mistley, Brightlingsea, Walton and Thorpe-le-Soken.

Mr Barker-McCardle said that a public survey carried out in June and July showed that more than 60% of respondents had not visited a police station in the last 12 months and that about 90% of people preferred to report a crime over the telephone.

“We have monitored attendance by the public at police stations across Essex and it is clear that demand is often very low,” he said.

“In fact, one of our police stations recorded an average of one member of the public visiting every two days.

“In light of this, Essex Police has very carefully considered the best way in which we can provide front counter services to the public at the same time as keeping as many police officers on the street as possible.”

The county’s force is looking to save about �41 million by 2014 and has already announced that it is looking to run the service with about 380 fewer police officers. Although officers can not be made redundant, there is a freeze on recruitment and retiring officers will not be replaced.

The closure of front desks would be compensated for by a new Crime and Incident Management Bureau which will provide a 24-hour service for reporting crime or anti-social behaviour.

“Essex Police is a 24-hour service and officers will continue to be accessible around the clock, every day of the year, to members of the public,” said Mr Barker-McCardle.

The proposals would see 21 police stations in Essex close to the public:

West Mersea

Wivenhoe

Copford

Ipswich Road, Colchester

Mistley

Brightlingsea

Walton-on-the-Naze

Thorpe-le-Soken

Great Yeldham

Stansted Mountfitchet

Hatfield Heath

Moulsham Lodge

Leigh

Shoebury

Rochford

South Benfleet

Corringham

Wickford

Laindon

Waltham Abbey

Onger