LANCASHIRE'S police and crime commissioner and Lancashire Constabulary have launched a consultation on plans to close ten police enquiry desks across the county, including ones at Barnoldswick and Colne.

They are looking to reduce the number of front counters at police stations across the county as the number of people using the service continues to fall.

The review will not result in any station closures nor change the way areas are policed but it will deliver £1.4 million of the £19.8 million in savings the police need to find by 2020.

The proposals include closing ten of 23 desks across Lancashire and reducing opening hours of the others.

The proposals are based on a detailed analysis of current use and are supported by a range of improvements to other contact methods such as telephone and online crime reporting.

Stakeholders and the public are being asked for their views on the proposals, but with a clear message that savings have to be delivered and public demands on police are no longer in stations but out in the community and on the telephone.

The business case put forward by constabulary suggests £1.4 million of the current £2.8 million spent providing the front counters service can be saved.

Lancashire police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “Firstly I want to reassure our communities this review will not change the way areas are policed. Front counters are not staffed by police officers and this review will not impact on officer numbers.

“We have to look at how the public want to report crimes and make sure that service receives the investment it needs.

“The front counters proposed for closure serve only three to ten people a day.”

Chief superintendent Peter Lawson, the senior officer responsible for the review, said: “The constabulary has conducted a thorough review of the front counter service and it shows their use by the public continues to fall. Some of this is due to changes to processes such as immigration checks and some vehicle checks which are moving online, but in the main it is due to improved technology and greater use of phones.”

Should the changes go ahead they would come into force from January 2018.

To make a representation write to the Commissioner’s office, Front Counter Review, County Hall, Pitt Street, Preston PR1 0LD or email commissioner@lancashire-pcc.gov.uk (write FRONT COUNTER REVIEW in the subject box).

The deadline is July 21.