A NUMBER of police station front desks around Worcestershire have now closed.

As part of what it calls a more "modern and effective" way of operating, West Mercia Police shut the front desks at a number of town stations across the force area today, including Droitwich, Bromsgrove, Malvern, Ledbury and Bromyard.

Worcester police station, as well as stations in Redditch, Kidderminster, Telford and Hereford, will have front counters open to the public from 8am to 8pm six days a week and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays and bank holidays.

The desks that have been closed now have contact points in place to connect the visitor to a police call taker 24-hours-a-day via telephone intercom.

At locations where front counters are being replaced, local Safer Neighbourhood Teams will increase their visibility to offer support, reassurance and advice through increased patrols, drop in surgeries, community meetings and forums.