A sign of the times

It’s not new mollie. Many years ago my car was stolen and used In thefts. It was eventually recovered by the police and taken by them to a garage for some insurance repairs. On collection the glove box was full of stolen items. I phoned the police and was asked to take the items to a station many miles away. I refused, eventually the local police collected them. I suppose I could have been accused of being difficult, maybe I was, but I just didn’t understand why the police inspection of the car hadn’t found them. There were medical cards and a passport all in different names plus some jewellery. The car was sold pretty quickly. Just didn’t feel like mine any more.

Not sure it is down to fewer policemen because on the news a couple of days ago when they were discussing violent crime in London they said there were more policemen than a few years ago. Probably just down to it not being someone's job.

You'd think they'd be more concerned. It could easily have fallen into the wrong hands and not somebody who was concerned enough to make an effort to return it to its rightful owner.

You have to wonder how the owner managed to lose it. I think that is the most worrying thing.

If an officer loses a warrant card, he/she is expected to report the loss (or theft) immediately.

The police station in our little town closed last summer. It is now a dog grooming parlour. I haven't seen any sign of a police presence, not even community support officers for months. No wonder there is so much opportunist crime. Bring back the Bobby on the beat I say.

Our nearest police station is 20 miles away.
They have also shut the local ambulance station

Hilda we very rarely see any signs of the police, just occasionally a car but we still don't have much crime. Perhaps that is why they don't need to be here.

Our local paper has exciting front pages like 'Bad Parking' and 'Mayor attends function'. We once had '3 cannabis plants found', that was really exciting!

?? Nonnie

Our local police station closed about 5 years ago. It got knocked down and there are about 6 houses on the plot now.

The usual government cutbacks on vital services I’m afraid...

We were in Kent recently and were amazed on walking past a police station to read the notice 'closed on Saturdays'. Just couldn't believe it.

I lost my keys at a local beauty spot last summer. I went to the local police station early evening, shut. I made a note of opening times. Went the next morning at the right time 'Sorry, due to staff shortages, we're opening an hour late'. The next week, off I went, same story except they were closing an hour early.
Eventually I got in and waited 30mins in a queue. (No keys btw)
Not enough staff.

Years ago my daughter found a wallet and took it to the police station. While there she made a decision to join the police force. She is now a Sergeant and has twelve years service. Just saying ...

I moved very close to the centre of a very large town 14 years ago, and I can honestly say that in all that time I have never once seen a police officer on foot. The only time I have seen a police car in my road is when they have used it as a cut through from one main road to another, never just out on patrol. The police station also has opening times in line with shop opening hours so you're stuffed if you work and need to drop in for some reason.

All our local stations are shut, there is nowhere we can go and talk to a police officer. Have to report crime online or by non-urgent phone. Now if I were to have to show my licence to a police officer after a speeding offence, where on earth would I go?

Several young people have been stabbed/shot in or near Hackney. There used to be 4 police stations now there is only one, apparently. There must be a connection. Austerity coming home to roost!

Just remembered I live in a smallish but growing market town. We had a police station in the town for many years it was closed and a new one was built at huge expense on the outskirts of the town. After a very small number of years, it was closed and is now a large white elephant.

Our local Police station is staffed during office hours, so if you need them between 9-5, Monday - Friday it's fine, but evenings or weekends, no chance!
There used to be a phone beside the doors with a direct connection to the main Police station 5 miles away, but now that's gone and instead we have....wait for it......
A notice on the doors with directions to the nearest public phone box!!!!
Seriously, it beggars belief!

We are in the same situation and a middle sized town apart from whizzing police cars you rarely see a bobby on foot
My dad told me in his day The police used to meet in the town each morning and march through town to the police station (showing their presence, their size and their military style background) I also remember watching the Bobby on the evening beat trying each shop door as he walked past to make sure they were locked they used to keep an eye on your house if you were going away on holiday and let them know and when I left home my first digs were found by speaking to the police station and asking for any known decent rooms to let in the town I was going to, they came back with a small list

The police in our small town abandoned the police station which was some way off the town centre and moved to shared premises with the fire service, closer to the centre. The PCSOs have a visible presence.

It all depends on where you live, and the necessity of keeping a police station going.Where I live there is a police station in most nearby towns.

When we had photos of drug dealers regularly dealing outside our house in full view of children coming out of school, it took ages and a lot of effort to get the police to take note. The difference came when we went via the Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator who got the local PCSO to be our contact. As a result some drug gangs from a long way off were arrested. I was also invited to be on the Independent Panel acting as critical friends to the police and conduits for information to & from police and public. Many areas have Neighbourhood Advisory Groups but struggle to get people interested. I guess in these times of cuts we all have to be involved in fighting crime, however much we think it should be otherwise.

At a recent neighbourhood watch meeting we heard about the shortage of police officers and were told there is no response now to shoplifting. It is similar with fire crew and stations. That clown Boris Johnson sold off many fire stations in London for private building. And don’t get me started on the nhs. As I said in a previous post if you voted for them go to the back of the queue,