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Marlborough was one of three enquiry offices that were closed last year

Three of the Wilthsire's enquiry offices are to be re-opened following a review of the closures last year.

In October 2007, public enquiry offices were closed at a number of locations throughout the County, but at that time the public of Wiltshire were guaranteed that a thorough review of those closures would be carried out in February 2008.

Following that review, which was completed this week and examined a great amount of detail on the public's use of the county's enquiry offices in recent months, it is clear that three enquiry office facilities need to be re-opened.

The detailed analysis provided within the review has proved to be valuable confirmation of some of the informal feedback officers and staff have been receiving from our communities.

Chief Constable Brian Moore said: "While the business case for closing the enquiry offices was sound, and Wiltshire Police will not waste public funds on unnecessary areas of our service, public satisfaction with the service this Force provides is one of our highest priorities.

"In order to better meet the needs of the public and ensure satisfaction with our service, it is clear that we do need to re-open enquiry offices in some locations.

"Therefore I have decided, with the support of the Police Authority and Wiltshire County Council, that a full enquiry office service be resumed at Chippenham and Trowbridge, and a limited enquiry office capacity is resumed in Marlborough.

"Much more detail must now be worked through before we are able to confirm the exact dates that the enquiry offices at Trowbridge, Chippenham and Marlborough will be re-opened, but they should be in place by early summer.

"The savings made from the original decision to close the enquiry offices have already been reinvested into protecting our communities from serious and organised crime. However, Wiltshire Police is very grateful to Wiltshire County Council, which has been very supportive in the provision of these enhanced public enquiry office services."

Sue Redmond, Wiltshire County Council Director of Community Services, said: "The County Council is committed to all public services working together to deliver services in Wiltshire which are local, and make best use of the limited public funding available.

"We will continue to work with our partners in the county to ensure the wishes of local people are acted on."

Police Authority Chair, Christopher Hoare, said: "The initial decision was always intended to be subject to review. Police Authority members have been part of that review and fully endorse the decision. We have been acutely aware of the public's desire to access their police stations. This decision means that by June 2008 every part of the county will be within easy reach of an enquiry office that is open during hours convenient to the public. Meanwhile, all police stations will remain open for operational police business as usual."

11:52am Friday 14th March 2008

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