What do the police do for you?

This message from Police commissioner Olly Martins is basically about closing police stations and whatever you put down its forced on Beds Police by government cut backs. 

The recently announced Government funding cuts mean that Bedfordshire Police has to make savings of £7.5m - on top of the £15m already taken out of the budget since 2010.
With officers and staff already working at maximum efficiency I need to look at new ways in which I can find further savings.

Currently, police buildings in Bedfordshire cost £3m annually to run and maintain. Many are outdated and in need of refurbishment and are no longer in the best position to serve the public. Others are under-used and are consuming vast sums of money which could be better spent on protecting front line officers or PCSOs.  

Meanwhile, technology and different methods of communicating mean that people often contact the police without visiting a police station and I am keen to establish how people prefer to contact the police in a non-emergency situation before I make any decisions on the future of police stations and contact points.

That’s why I am asking you for your views.  They will help me shape my plans to improve accessibility to the police in non-emergency situations, while making savings that will keep as many police officers and PCSOs as possible on our streets.

Please tell me what you think by taking part in my survey.  It will take approximately 10 minutes and can be reached by  visiting my website at http://www.bedfordshire.pcc.police.uk/police-stations-survey/

The survey will run until 1 October 2013 and I intend to make the responses public as soon as possible after that point.  The final report will be placed on my website and my decisions will be publicised widely.  If you wish to be alerted to the publication of the report, or would like to be informed of my decisions directly, please let my office know by emailing pcc@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk or telephoning 01234 842066.

I am also aware that some people may need the survey in alternative formats or languages, and every effort will be made to accommodate this as efficiently as possible.  Again, please contact my office with any such requests.

Thank you for getting involved and having your say about local policing.

Olly Martins
Police and Crime Commissioner.