Formal confirmation has now been received that the front office at Yateley police station will close at the end of Friday, March 16, 2012.   This decision follows an in-depth review by the police  into the way front office services are used by members of the public. Writing to local councillors Chief Inspector Sarah Jackson states ” In the current financial climate, private businesses and public sector organisations all have to make savings; and policing is no exception. By closing the front offices where demand is low, the force can make some of the savings it has to make as a result of the reduced budget”.

Whilst Yateley is in a low crime area it is a shame that public access to our local station is being lost. The closest Hampshire police station where public can now visit is in Aldershot!

It is only a few weeks since Conservative councillors on the Hampshire police authority voted for a budget for the police for the coming year that meant that cuts in service are inevitable. No doubt details of the impact on other parts of the service will become apparent in the coming weeks.