New police desk aims to improve public service (From Swindon Advertiser)
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NEWS'
New police desk aims to improve public service
12:30pm Monday 8th February 2010 in
A NEW police enquiry desk is being officially opened today aimed at providing people with additional access to services.
Fully trained police enquiry officers will run the desk and are able to direct people to local services, take reports of crimes and road traffic collisions and issue police application forms.
They are also able to make appointments for visitors to speak to their neighbourhood officers, check vehicle documents, and receive and record lost and found property.
The public point is at Swindon Council’s One Stop Shop at Wat Tyler House, on Beckhampton Street, and is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8am to 6pm, on Thursdays from 8am to 8pm and Saturdays from 9am to 1pm.
Swindon divisional commander Paul Howlett said: “We decided to open the police enquiry desk at Swindon Council's One Stop Shop to give people living and working in and around the town centre increased access to Wiltshire Police services.
“It will also be beneficial for people who find it difficult or inconvenient to visit our enquiry office at Gablecross police station.
“Our staff are able to offer a number of policing services and can speak face to face with members of the public about any concerns or queries they have.
“Wiltshire Police and Swindon Council work together on a number of initiatives in a bid to improve the lives of residents.”
Coun Fionuala Foley, the deputy leader of the council, said: “I’m very pleased that the desk is now open for business, because the public will now have access to police services in a convenient town centre location.
“It adds to the range of information and help available under one roof at the council’s One Stop Shop.
“This is why partnership working between different organisations is so important, because it delivers better services for everyone.”
The One Stop Shop deals with enquiries and gives advice on a wide range of issues including housing and homelessness, benefits, council tax, parking penalties and concessionary travel. Usually between 15,000 and 17,000 people visit in a month.
A full list of services available to the public at the enquiry desk is on display there and information about the desk is available on the Wiltshire Police website. Visit www.wiltshire.police.uk for more details.
Comments(22)
Janais is back
says...
1:00pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Didn't we once have a purpose built police station with enquiry desk just across the road which they pulled down & moved it almost to Oxford!
Or am I being cynical again?
Bobfm
says...
1:15pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Being almost on the border with Oxford most would find it incredible that it was planned.
Surely building it say on the now site of the Holiday Inn Express at junction 16 would have made more sense, easy access to the motor, easy access to the town via Great Western Way, easy access to West Swindon. here it is is simply inaccessible for the majority of Swindon people.
Captain Sensible
says...
1:24pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Bobfm
says...
1:34pm Mon 8 Feb 10
It seems that recovering money within LA's and HMG are an expensive process look at the Legg enquiry, it has cost more than it has recovered, which I suspect this action has.
rmc001
says...
2:40pm Mon 8 Feb 10
It would be a great help considering the Gablecross station is on the other side of the most awkward and dangerous roundabout in Swindon to access, and the small one at the Link Centre is closed every time I see it!
One point, when I returned from Gloucester on the train last Saturday night I was impressed by the amount of police officers I saw at the station controlling the football supporters!
politicrat
says...
2:41pm Mon 8 Feb 10
obviously a new taxpayerfunded office is going to help in catching criminals on the street LOL
Billy Jo
says...
3:44pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Bobfm wrote:The junction 16 site may indeed be more accessible for the West Swindon area but not so for Pinehurst/Penhill or the Parks/Eldene/Liden etc etc etc.
Cynicism is usually based on truth. Being almost on the border with Oxford most would find it incredible that it was planned. Surely building it say on the now site of the Holiday Inn Express at junction 16 would have made more sense, easy access to the motor, easy access to the town via Great Western Way, easy access to West Swindon. here it is is simply inaccessible for the majority of Swindon people.
I'm afraid the ideal location was where it was,central to the whole town.
Even more ideal would be a central hub with three satellite stations (properly manned) in north,west and east Swindon.
That's right,once upon a time we had that. Clearly sometimes "progress" can be quite the failure.
politicrat
says...
4:09pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Billy Jo wrote:I am sorry but since most police officers are patrolling in police cruisers what is the point of being stuck in the town centre when they could access the major road axis in less time from Gablecross......
Bobfm wrote: Cynicism is usually based on truth. Being almost on the border with Oxford most would find it incredible that it was planned. Surely building it say on the now site of the Holiday Inn Express at junction 16 would have made more sense, easy access to the motor, easy access to the town via Great Western Way, easy access to West Swindon. here it is is simply inaccessible for the majority of Swindon people.The junction 16 site may indeed be more accessible for the West Swindon area but not so for Pinehurst/Penhill or the Parks/Eldene/Liden etc etc etc. I'm afraid the ideal location was where it was,central to the whole town. Even more ideal would be a central hub with three satellite stations (properly manned) in north,west and east Swindon. That's right,once upon a time we had that. Clearly sometimes "progress" can be quite the failure.
Central hub yes, but certainly not in Town centre, it doesnt make sense!
Janais is back
says...
4:23pm Mon 8 Feb 10
I never see any police (real or otherwise) in the vicinity of the Town Centre other than for football thugs and the pubs at weekends - but I always did during the day when they were more accessible in Fleming Way - and there was less problem with beggers & drunks then.
As for the 'New' Enquiry desk what good will it doing calling in there to see a real policeman - none because they will all be civillian employees with no powers to do anything other than pick up the phone in any emergency.
How long did the police station at Westlea last? and much did it cost (waste) us? How much has the grafitti spread in that area since it went?
rmc001
says...
4:32pm Mon 8 Feb 10
True, as soon as it went the grafitti was all over West Swindon, and when it was spread over our garden wall we had a long drive to the far side of the town to report it, as the Link Centre one was shut.
saymybit
says...
5:12pm Mon 8 Feb 10
I Too
says...
6:55pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Wurzellly
says...
7:22pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Bobfm
says...
8:21pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Why? Cause they are free unlike PCSO's.
Wurzellly
says...
8:47pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Bobfm wrote:LOL - get booby "I of course cannot and will not reveal my source for this information" ....... secret sources no doubt overheard some ideal gossip whilst he was in the traps having a dump in his pub bog!
I of course cannot and will not reveal my source for this information. But as from October Swindon will be patrolled exclusively by Special Constables, on Friday and Saturday nights. If I am wrong would Brian Moore wish to deny it. They are being currently trained for this.
Why? Cause they are free unlike PCSO's.
Bobfm
says...
8:54pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Wurzellly
says...
9:00pm Mon 8 Feb 10
who dat?
says...
9:57am Tue 9 Feb 10
Bobfm
says...
12:24pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Fitchey
says...
12:43pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Bobfm wrote:If you were out in the town center on a friday or Saturday night, You will soon notice that the SC are already out and about
I of course cannot and will not reveal my source for this information. But as from October Swindon will be patrolled exclusively by Special Constables, on Friday and Saturday nights. If I am wrong would Brian Moore wish to deny it. They are being currently trained for this.
Why? Cause they are free unlike PCSO's.
Bobfm
says...
2:09pm Tue 9 Feb 10
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Bobfm says...
12:44pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Residents of South Marston have made representations to the Parish Council that despite planning assurances to the contrary the Police are using SM as a rat run, because it's far quicker to get anywhere in the town than tackle the main routes.
On the face of it this just seems to be another tier of 'paper shift and sifting' exercise. Quite how it will help crime prevention and detection remains to be seen.