Police at the right place at the right time

NEW opening hours of the enquiry office at Coleraine Police Station will help to provide the local public with a better service from police.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Jul 2011, 07:49 BST

Police said that the office will now be open to members of the public on Sunday to Thursday between the hours of 8am to midnight and Friday and Saturday between the hours of 8am to 3am.

Area Commander, Chief Inspector Nicky Thompson, explained how the changes will maximise resources and allow an increased focus to be placed on issues that members of the public have identified as a priority.

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“Members of the public constantly tell us that they want police officers back on the beat to respond to the crimes that matter to them the most - anti-social behaviour, burglaries, car crime etc,” he told The Coleraine Times.

“The Enquiry Office at Coleraine Police Station received a very small number of callers trying to attend to routine matters between the hours of midnight and 8am during the week and between the hours of 3am and 8am at weekends.

“By changing the opening hours, we are aiming to ensure that we have the right the people, in the right places, at the right time.”

Chief Insp Thompson went on to stress: “Coleraine Police Station will remain a 24/7 operational station housing, response officers and neighbourhood policing teams.

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“People can still report crime and incidents via 999, the non-emergency number 0845 600 8000, or go to the station in an emergency. The station will have personnel on duty 24 hours a day who can ensure that the appropriate resources are tasked in an emergency and that members of the public can get quick and professional assistance.”

The changes will bring Coleraine Police Station in line with standard practice in other parts of Northern Ireland and the UK.

Anyone calling to the general enquiry office at the station outside of the opening hours, for example, to hand in driving documents will be asked to return after 8am.

Chief Insp Thompson added: “I would like to reassure the community that far from being a reduction in service, this move will actually lead to more time being allocated by police officers to the most pressing community concerns.”