Acomb Police open up to public

Acomb Police Station is now open to the public allowing residents greater accessibility to their local policing team.

Acomb Police Station

The new public-facing counter, which opened on Thursday 1 April 2010, will enable people to interact with their Safer Neighbourhood officers and report crime and incidents without having to travel to the main police station in Fulford.

The improved facility is part of North Yorkshire Police's ongoing strategy to put neighbourhood policing at the heart of our communities. With more opportunity for face-to-face contact with local officers, stronger relationships can be built between the police and the community which will in turn help to tackle local priorities.

The new front desk, which will eventually be staffed by volunteers to allow officers to spend more time on the beat, will provide greater community reassurance and allow residents to speak with officers, make general enquiries, get advice and hand in items of lost property.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Madgwick, who officially opened the new facility, said: "We are fully committed to neighbourhood policing and providing a better service to our customers.

"With the help of our volunteers Acomb Police Station's new front-desk will bring the community, the police and other partners closer together.

"The volunteers will staff the office which will allow our officers to be out on the streets doing their job. It is great that it is now open and accessible to the public."

The office will initially be open for two hours per day throughout April, to allow the volunteers to be fully trained. The opening hours will then increase based on demand from the public.

Acomb Police Station is an existing police facility which houses the local Safer Neighbourhood Team and is also used as a training centre, however it has not been open to the public for seven years.

Councillor for the Westfield ward Andrew Waller is delighted that the front counter has been reopened. He said: "Residents have been asking ward councillors about this all the time it has been shut.

"It gives everyone the opportunity to help out and provide a service to the community. I hope we can build on the excellent partnership working that has been developing over the past few years."

York Safer Neighbourhood Commander, Superintendent Lisa Winward, also said that the new front counter is a great opportunity to strengthen partnerships within the community as a whole.

She said: "I am delighted that this facility is in the heart of the community and continues to build on the excellent relationships and contacts the local team have built up in this area."

The opening of Acomb Police Station to the public follows the success of similar facilities in Eggborough, Thirsk and Pateley Bridge, which have been well received by residents.

Greater access to officers allows local people to express their concerns and gives the police a better understanding of what the issues need tackling locally.

Labour MP for the City Of York, Hugh Bayley, was also at the opening and he believes that making officers more accessible helps in the fight against crime.

He said: "I have seen the crime figures for the City of York and they show a dramatic reduction over the past five years which has happened because the police have become more accessible to the public.

"There is a big demand from the public and this new facility will allow officers to be better informed.  They will be more able to deal with problems such as anti-social behaviour, as the public can tell them what is happening in their area."

The opening hours for Acomb Police Station during April are:

  • Monday 10am -12pm
  • Tuesday 2pm - 4pm
  • Wednesday 6pm - 8pm
  • Thursday 6pm - 8pm
  • Friday 2pm - 4pm
  • Saturday 10am - 12pm

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer with North Yorkshire Police can contact volunteers coordinator Sharon Tyler on 0845 60 60 24 7.

1 April 2010