PSNI Announce New Opening Hours At Local Police Stations

The PSNI has announced new opening hours at a number of police stations in Northern Ireland.

Police said "advances in technology" have made it possible for them to deliver new ways of reporting crime, filling out official forms and engaging with officers.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said: "People are choosing to contact us in a different way and we want to deliver what they want, in the way they have chosen while maintaining our frontline service.

"Since the launch of our new website in February 2016 (up to 8 February 2017) more than 445,000 people have visited the site, with more than 1.5 million page views. More than 17,000 people have visited our online crime reporting page. Our social media following grew by 211,305 followers in 2016 and we regularly reach more than 2 million people per week with our social media posts.

"Digital access is what the public have chosen and, in this environment of changing public need and police resources, this is how we are designing for the future and providing best value for public money.

"Enquiry offices were conceived before the digital age however we appreciate that there are some services that require face to face interaction. When considering the changes to station enquiry opening hours we looked at demand and peak use to ensure the impact on the public is kept to a minimum."

From 03 April enquiry offices at stations in Antrim Road (Belfast), Ballycastle, Ballymoney, Carrickfergus, Portadown and Newcastle will no longer be open to the public for routine business.

New opening hours for enquiry offices across Northern Ireland, with the exception of Musgrave Station, will also be implemented.

Station enquiry offices will be open from 11am to 7pm, Monday to Friday. Strand Road enquiry office in L'Derry will be open from 9am to 9pm, Monday to Friday and 12 noon to 8pm on Saturday and Sunday. Musgrave enquiry office in Belfast will remain open 24/7.

(CD/MH)