‘Stop’ closing our local stations’ says Fed chair

16 November 2022

The chair of West Midlands Police Federation says that continuing to close the region’s local police stations will damage the Force’s reputation, impact officers and actually encourage a rise in crime.

Rich Cooke says that while he recognises the Force has not got money to build brand new infrastructure choosing to close and not replace existing police stations is ‘simply not good enough’.

His comments come after figures revealed that eighty per cent of the region’s police stations with public-facing front desks have closed down in the last 10 years, with just four left in the Black Country.

“We need to stop closing our local police stations, it’s that simple,” says Rich, adding: “And if we do close them, then we should at least look at replacing them.

“My local station has been closed and replaced with a block of luxury flats, but I guess that’s a sign of the times, right? Well, that’s just simply not good enough for local taxpayers.”

Rich says that he believes closing local stations ‘signifies police withdrawal from the community’ and ‘encourages crime’ in those areas.  

He added: “I recognise that money is far too tight for brand new police stations to be built but surely closing them isn’t the best option? But, as the police, we should be trying to keep a presence in these local communities, especially in more deprived areas.

“Some of these local stations are iconic buildings within the community, so when they close, I feel it can have a real practical and psychological impact on the people who live in that area.

“It’s not just about the damage this will do to the relationship between the police and local communities. These officers don’t just want - they need - local police stations to do their best. After all, local police stations are a hub for them, a place for them to engage with fellow officers and have some time for themselves, after what are long, gruelling shifts.

“Of course, officers are far more likely to go out into the community and be seen if they have a local station to use as a base too. Plus, they won’t feel they need to rush through paper admin work because they can do all of their job from one space.

“And what about the police stations that are still open? They’re becoming overcrowded, with officers having to take on big commutes before struggling to get a parking space and often being hit with exorbitant charges.”

Rich said that while, on one hand, local police stations have closed, the Force is also actively trying to attract new recruits while current officers tackle rising crime, specifically street violence and knife crime.

He continued: “It’s contradictory. How can we be recruiting more officers but closing our stations? And what’s more, how can we ask our officers to be visible and out in the community but then get rid of their local stations? It just doesn’t make sense.”

Reflecting on his time on the frontline, having joined the police back in 2000, Rich says that having a local custody block was ‘crucial’.

“Officers are far more effective if they have a local station and custody nearby” he added.

“But look, I’m an optimist, my glass is always half full and I really feel the future is bright. With the new Chief Constable coming in, it’s the start of a new era and it’s exciting. We might have a rocky road ahead but I’m confident we’ll get there.”