LANCASTER and Morecambe police stations are to close to the public at nights to save money. Both stations' enquiry desks will close from 8pm to 8am every night of the week in a fortnight's time to make policing more cost effective in the area. But Independent city councillor Carol Broad has expressed her worry at the move as well as at staffing levels in the stations.

She said: "I think it's concerning that there has been staffing problems. It's my understanding that Morecambe station has been closed a couple of times because they can't cope when a few people are ill, it's a little bit worrying. I think most people would want to see some sort of review of that.

"The police are looking to find resources but my concern is that they won't be able to go into the station as easily as they would have liked, especially at weekends."

But Lancaster Police Superintendent Philip Brear defended the decision.

In a lengthy statement he argued: "Station Enquiry Desks have been closed from midnight until 8am every day since mid 1997 and there has been no adverse reaction from the public nor any letters of complaint.

"Dedicated telephones have been installed by the doors and these connect direct to our communications room.

"Detailed research has shown that very few people attend either station after 7pm, the overwhelming majority of members of the public now contact us by telephone and those who wish to attend the station during the normal working day or en route to and from work." Supt Brear went on to say that closing the desks would mean more money for patrol officers and the communications room staff.

He added: "The reduction in opening hours has been part of a long term force-wide programme of ensuring that our staff are where the public want them at the times they want them, dealing with the crimes and incidents they want them to deal with.

"It would not be reasonable or responsible to move resources from these areas to employ people to man desks to which very few people attend."

Lancaster and Morecambe stations dealt with 80,000 telephone calls last year.

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