Police have closed 21 front counter stations around the country, while a Front Counter Safety review is conducted, due to safety concerns for their employees.
Those employees, mainly volunteers, don't have the necessary training and physical protection measures to protect them from an attacker who walks in to the station.
"Police is looking at improving the way the public can access Police services. This includes centralised calling, a single non-emergency number and online reporting," Assistant Commissioner Jevon McSkimming says.
The stations will remain closed while the review is on-going.
The stations affected are:
- Rossmont
- Highbury
- Orewa
- Warkworth
- Wellsford
- Whangaparoa
- Arrowtown
- Ellerslie
- Epsom
- Mission Bay
- Panmure
- Remuera
- St Heliers
- Victory Square
- Taita
- Mana
- Titahi Bay
- Whitby
- Waitangirua
- Johnsonville
- Kilbirnie
In Otago, the Arrowtown station has been manned for six hours a day, five days a week for more than 23 years.
There were 25 volunteers that made up the Arrowtown Police Volunteer Group, until they handed back the keys to Queenstown Police on Tuesday.
Otago Lakes-Central Area Commander Inspector Olaf Jensen says the safety of staff and volunteers on police premises is a priority.
"In March 2016 we began a project to develop a Front Counter Safety Model. The new model has now been completed and features security requirements for public entrances and exits, CCTV monitoring, counter design, barriers, alarms, access control measures, and training and enhanced operating procedures," he says.
"Police have been very open that some of our sites have facilities where it is impractical or not justifiable to implement the new design features for example, in small one/two people stations or in community centre premises which are mostly staffed by volunteers."
Despite the closures, anyone who needs assistance is advised to call 111 in an emergency.
In a non-emergency situation people should phone their local station where their call will be answered by a Police employee who can take the appropriate action.
Newshub.
