Brighton and Hove’s two main police stations will operate reduced opening hours from next year.
And their future is under review, with closure a possibility.
The police station in John Street, Brighton, will be open to pubic from 8am to midnight every day.
It is currently open 24 hours a day.
The police station in Holland Road, Hove, will be open from 10am to 2pm and 3pm to 6pm from Monday to Friday and closed at weekends.
It is currently open from 10am to 6pm from Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays.
The public will continue to have to make appointments to visit the East Brighton police station in Crowhurst Road, Hollingbury, which opened in 2008 and houses the Brighton Response Investigation Team.
Sussex Police is currently reviewing the future of all its police stations.
Cells
There are four in Brighton and Hove, including the custody centre at Sussex House in Crowhurst Road and the neighbouring East Brighton police station.
Since the cells were moved to Sussex House, the cost of maintaining John Street police station has encouraged speculation that it may close.
And the last time opening hours were reduced at Holland Road also gave rise to talk of possible closure.
The latest review – aimed in part at cutting costs – is said to rule nothing in and nothing out.
One officer said: “A lot has change over the years and John Street and Holland Road have needed a lot of maintenance work which must cost a small fortune.
“I’d be surprised if they were to close but the way we deal with the public has changed a lot too so they’re not as important as they were in years gone by.
“The opening of the custody suite at Sussex House is one of a number of things that any review will take into account.
“We also know that a lot of people want a police station in the centre of town even if they rarely have the need to come here.
“Of course, many things are more expensive in the centre of any town – including parking for the public – and I think most of us grasp the need to make spending cuts right now even if the effects might be a bit uncomfortable.
“Personally, I think it would be a shame to lose either of the town centre police stations and fortunately I don’t think we will but we’ll have to see.”
Sussex Police Authority said that nothing would be decided before the review.
Improved access
It said that its aims with the review included “improved access to local neighbourhood policing teams and a wealth of new and more efficient ways for the public to contact the police”.
These do not necessarily involve keeping open police stations if officers can be based in, for example, libraries or community centres.
The authority is also keen to use new technology to enable the public to contact the police without necessarily having to use a police station.
The authority said: “While a review of the current police station estate is necessary there should be no moves to close any stations before an alternative facility is in place and that the needs of each community, on a case by case basis, is fully explored and people are consulted.”
The authority approved a paper recommending the revised opening hours and committing to a review of each police station.
Alan Price, Sussex Police Authority’s lead member for estates, said: “I welcome this paper and the authority’s approval of it.
“This is real proof that proposals that will save the force a very significant amount of money really will improve the way we deliver services to the public.
“It is also important to note that although we have approved these proposals nothing is set in stone and this review will form part of our ongoing annual estate asset management plan and will continue to do in the future.”
The review paper can be seen by clicking here.
