'Completely unacceptable' - MPs' anger as West Midlands Police stations close to the public

West Midlands Police announced the move in a bid to save £3 million.

In total there will be 27 front offices across the region closed with more than 90 of the 170 jobs at risk.

At least two MPs are writing to Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson calling for him to reverse the decision.

Dudley MP Ian Austin has launched a campaign to halt the closure of Dudley's public counter.

The closure would leave Dudley as the largest town in the country without a police station open to the public.

He said: "This is what happens when the government cuts spending too quickly and too deeply.

"It is completely unacceptable that a town the size of Dudley should have its police station closed to the public and I'll be campaigning against these cuts.

"I warned two years ago that the reduction in the number of hours the station was open would be the start of a slippery slope.

"I'm collecting signatures from local people so we can send a clear message that these plans are dangerous and unwanted."

Key: Current opening hours>future opening hours

Dudley

Brierley Hill 24 hours> 8am – 10pm

Halesowen Mon-Sun: 10am – 6pm> Closed to public

Stourbridge Mon-Sun: 10am – 6pm> Closed to public

Dudley Mon-Sun: 10am – 6pm> Closed to public

Sedgley Mon-Fri: 9:30am – 3:30pm> Open as a Contact Point - unchanged, volunteer run

Sandwell

Smethwick 24 hours> Closed to public

West Bromwich 24 hours> 8am – 10pm

Tipton Mon, Tues, Wed-Fri: 10am – 2pm, Thur: 2pm – 6pm >Closed to public

Wednesbury Mon-Fri: 10am – 6pm> Closed to public

Old Hill Mon-Fri: 10am – 6pm> Closed to public

Walsall

Walsall 24 hours> Closed to public

Bloxwich Mon-Sun: 8am – 10pm> 8am – 10pm

Aldridge Mon-Sun: 10am – 6pm> Closed to public

Willenhall Mon-Sun: 10am – 6pm>Closed to public

Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton 24 hours>8am – 10pm

Wednesfield Mon-Sun: 10am – 6pm>Closed to public

Bilston Mon-Sun: 10am – 6pm>Closed to public

Emma Reynolds, Wolverhampton North East MP, added: "I am extremely disappointed that the front desk at Wednesfield police station is closing. It is vital that my constituents are able to have access to the police at local police stations. I will be writing to the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner to call on him to reverse this decision and keep the front desk at Wednesfield open.

"The truth is that the police are having to make these difficult decisions because this Tory-led government is not protecting police numbers. Police forces will have to cut 1,100 frontline police officers in 2015 to meet the savings required on top of the cuts that have already happened."

MP for Wolverhampton South East Pat McFadden said that his constituents will be 'very dismayed' by the proposals.

"Access to the police is important and Bilston was only built a few years ago. I appreciate the financial pressures being imposed on police by the government but my constituents want to see a visible and easily contactable police force," he said.

And Valerie Vaz, MP for Walsall South, added: "I am alarmed that 27 police front counters will be closed across the West Midlands over the next 12 months.

"I have written to the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner asking him to review his decision.This will take away a direct connection between the public and the Police. Police forces have faced a 20 per cent cut from Government grants to their budgets.

"I am concerned that the number of police will have fallen by over 16,000 by the end of this Government which could affect neighbourhood policing."

Walsall North MP David Winnick said that the argument being put forward by officers is that people tend to ring up rather than visit.

"I don't accept that," he said. "There could be an adverse effect in dealing with criminality in the borough with what is intended with the closures.

"I will be taking to the chief constable and the police and crime commissioner to ask them to reconsider. It is unwelcome news."

Some front offices could close within months with ones currently manned by PCSOs such as Tipton, Wednesbury, Old Hill and Sedgley anticipated to be first to go to free up officers.

The announcement was made days after the Express & Star revealed that West Midlands Police need to make an extra £100m cuts over five years which will see hundreds of jobs axed.

Yearly cuts of £25m after the General Election have been predicted and bosses at the West Midlands force are working with consultancy firm Accenture UK on radical plans to change the way it works.

Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said it was 'inevitable' that jobs and buildings would be axed due to the size of the cuts.

He said police officers would not be made redundant but that they would not be replaced when they leave.

You can sign Mr Austin's petition by visiting his website, by emailing austini@parliament.uk or by calling his office on 01384 342 504.