No front desk service at Amble Police Station
Ian Forster, Neighbourhood Police Sergeant, outside the Amble Police office at Fourways2
Northumbria Police have announced that Amble Police Station no longer has a front desk service. This means you can no longer call in to Fourways 2 to speak to a Police Officer or Community Support Officer.
There is also no provision for reporting lost items, or handing in found items other than those of a high value (eg mobile phones, laptops, large quantities of cash) or items it is illegal to possess (eg drugs). See photo at bottom of the page for more information.
If you have lost your passport or driving licence you should contact the passport office (0300 222 0000 www.gov.uk) or DVLA (0870 174 7001 www.gov.uk). Found passports and driving licences may be handed in to the police, but they will not be returned to the owner.
Here is a list of how to contact police or offer information on crimes taking place.
In an emergency, if someone’s life is in danger or a crime is taking place: call 999
To report a crime, or incident or for general information and advice: call 101 or text 07786 200 814
For deaf/hard of hearing: Minicom 01661 820915 or text 07786 200 815
To contact Alnwick Neighbourhood Police Team: email alnwick.npt@northumbria.pnn.police.uk
To call independent charity Crimestoppers with information about people who are involved in or are planning crime: call 0800 555 111 (This is an independent charity which respects your anonymity. It is not connected to the local police station)
If you are affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol use: call 07702 833 944 (24 hr support)
Victims First Northumbria for free confidential advice: call 0800 911 3116
A police statement said:
Northumbria Police is making changes to the opening times of some of our stations. These changes do not affect the number of operational stations across the force or the availability of our officers.
These changes are being made in response to a significant decline in the use of front offices. This is due to people using other means of communication to report incidents, including the use of online and phone services. Despite these changes Northumbria will maintain 24 front offices operating across the Force area, this is the largest in the country.
The changes include the end of front office services in Amble, Killingworth and Hebburn. The operational Police station will remain and the public will be able to contact officers.
The savings that are generated will be used to support operational policing and invest in greater accessibility to the service we provide. There are no plans to close any operational stations. There are forty seven bases located in communities an increase of seven in recent years, this ensures our officers are located where needed.
Further investment will also be put into the 101 contact centres to make significant improvements to the current service.
Steve Ashman, Chief Constable of Northumbria Police said:
“We are still wrestling with the impact of austerity and the cuts that we have faced in Northumbria are the largest of any force in the country. This has meant that we have to make difficult decisions whilst striving to deliver the best possible service to our communities. We know that the public want to see police officers on the street and we are changing the way we work in order to protect this.
“We also know that residents don’t want to have to go to a police station in order to report information; but rather report it in their own home and at a time that is convenient for them.
“We always strive to provide an outstanding service to everyone in our communities and this investment into online and social communication will enable us to continue to do that.”
Anna Williams
Information from Northumbria Police for what to do with lost or found items, as they may no longer be accepted at police stations.
