Police counter service shut due to lack of help

14 October 2009

A POLICE office has closed to the public after it failed to attract enough volunteers to work on the front desk.

The office for the Mottingham and Chislehurst North and Chislehurst Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs) in the High Street, which was opened in 2007 by borough commander Charles Griggs, closed to the public last month.

A sign in the window advised visitors to go to Bromley or Eltham police stations but the Safer Neighbourhood Teams will still remain at the base.

Head of Bromley police's SNTs Chief Inspector Ian Gallehawk said: "There is no plan to close any of our 14 Safer Neighbourhood bases in Bromley and never has been.

"The front counter service provided at the Safer Neighbourhood bases is staffed by volunteers from the local communities.

"Given the fact that there has not been a sufficient number of volunteers available to provide the required service, and that footfall at the location has been minimal to say the least, a decision was taken to cease to advertise a front counter service.