November 2, 2022

The first police station front desk to be reopened after investment by Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner has welcomed in members of the public last month for the first time in eight years.

Tiverton Police Station’s Public Enquiry Office, in Lowman Green, is now open on Mondays and Tuesdays between 10am and 3pm. It will be open six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, from November 21 once new staff have completed training.

While the station has never been closed for use by officers staff and volunteers, the front desk was one of 12 in Devon and Cornwall which were shut in 2014 austerity cuts.

Five more across the force area are due to open this year, with plans for further reopenings in the pipeline.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “Already this week people have used Tiverton’s front desk to report crime and seek help from the police. For many people there is nothing to compare to reassuring, in-person support from well-trained Police Enquiry Officers.

“Communities around Devon and Cornwall have told me that they hugely value their police stations, and we know that when people come into contact with officers and staff their confidence in policing improves, so I am delighted to have been able to invest public money back in these communities where it belongs. I would like to thank all of those who applied for one of the 26 new police enquiry officer roles that this project has created.”

The Commissioner’s estates team has been busy preparing the stations for the public. Tiverton Police Station has been repainted, new signage has been erected and improvements made to the interior.

When not dealing with in-person enquiries, Police Enquiry Officers are now able to respond to non emergency contact via the 101 email system, so taking pressure off their colleagues in contact.

Truro, Newton Abbot and Penzance enquiry offices are the next scheduled to reopen on November 21, Bude’s is due to reopen on December 5 and Falmouth’s will follow on a date to be confirmed. All will initially open two days a week before rolling out to a six day a week pattern, opening from 10am to 3pm.

It is estimated that the cost of the additional openings will be about £186,000 in 2022/23, with the Commissioner and force are exploring opportunities to reopen more front desks in the following financial years.

Details of all police enquiry offices in Devon and Cornwall can be found online at www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/contact/police-enquiry-offices.