Warwickshire police neighbourhood offices to close in cuts

Offices where the public can meet their safer neighbourhood teams in south Leamington, Whitnash, Cubbington and Lillington will close in May, with teams being moved to Warwickshire Justice Centre in Leamington town centre.

Work is underway to find a new based for Warwick’s safer neighbourhood team, which currently operates from the town’s police station, and Wellesbourne’s team may be moved to Shipston.

In response to an enquiry about how much the closures will save, a police spokeswoman asked the Courier to submit a Freedom of Information request.

Cllr Bernard Kirton, who is responsible for community safety police at Warwick District Council and chairman of the south Warwickshire Crime Reduction Partnership, questioned the “credibility gap” between the Government’s pledges not to cut front line services and what the police force was doing in Warwickshire.

Cllr Kirton said: “Theresa May said there was no need for cuts to front line services. Here we have a clear example of cuts.”

Cllr Kirton warned that if offices close there will be nowhere for people to discuss problems in confidence, and that if officers begin and end shifts in Leamington, they will spend less time in the towns and villages they serve.

Police are due to move out of Brunswick Healthy Living Centre in Shrubland Street, Southern Court in Lillington and Cubbington Methodist church on May 4 and Whitnash library on May 16.

An agreement with Sainsbury’s supermarket comes to an end on October 3 but the force says an earlier closing date is yet to be confirmed.

New locations for Whitnash’s safer neighbourhoods team to meet the public will be provided.

Police have already announced cuts to the teams, with smaller teams of Pcsos, special constables and volunteers led by a Pc to focus on crime prevention, with other officers carrying out patrols and investigation.

In Kenilworth, safer neighbourhood teams currently operate from the police station but with the station’s sale almost certain a new office is being sought, with temporary office a possibility.

Southam police station will remain a base for safer neighbourhood teams, but its front office will be moved to premises shared with other organisations.

A force spokeswoman said: “Warwickshire Police and Police Authority are delivering a radical change programme to ensure that the force maintains a balanced budget and continues to deliver the maximum protection possible to reduce death, injury, loss and distress in the county.

“The force and police authority have agreed a new way of delivering policing services and a review of our buildings has taken place.

“Having fewer police buildings with lower running costs overall will release additional finances to pay for our workforce and other resources that deliver protection.”