Udall's challenge over Dines Green police post 'closure'

Cllr Richard Udall threw down the gauntlet to West Mercia's police and crime commissioner John Campion at a full meeting of Worcester City Council last week.

But Mr Campion claimed the row over Dines Green police post was "a storm in a teacup, whipped up by Councillor Udall for publicity."

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The Labour city councillor for St John's had challenged Mr Campion to work a shift with the team, led by 'the superb' PC Paul Slaymaker.

At the meeting Cllr Udall led demands for the Dines Green post to remain open, his impassioned plea resulting in a unanimous vote in favour of his motion.

VALUED: The police post in Burleigh Road, Dines Green, Worcester

He now intends to write a letter to both Mr Campion and the force's chief constable, Pippa Mills, formally requesting they work a shift with the team to see first-hand the value of the Burleigh Road post.

However, a West Mercia spokesman said: "No letter has been received from Councillor Udall at this time.

"The Chief Constable regularly joins officers on the beat and gives them opportunities to discuss their work and any concerns that need to be addressed."

The potential closure of the police post formed part of a much larger estates strategy consultation drawn up by the police and crime commissioner to save money. The consultation closed on July 11.

The post could potentially be replaced by a mobile police station, which Mr Campion argues would provide 'greater flexibility' to officers.

STRATEGY: Police and crime commissioner John Campion has asked for help from the public in deciding how to manage the future of West Mercia's estate

However, given the motion at the meeting, the city's position on the matter will now be 'difficult to ignore' says Cllr Udall.

He added: "We need to keep up the pressure, not only to keep the post open, but to expand it as well, so we can get more police officers on the beat in St John’s and have a permanent police presence in Dines Green."

At the meeting, Cllr Udall spoke at length about the value of the post.

He said: "It may not be open all the time but it's a comfort blanket. People know it's there. They know it exists. It ensures officers are safe and can be seen in the heart of St John's."

Cllr Udall called any closure of the police post 'an act of vandalism that would make the community even more deprived, at greater risk and unprotected'.

Mr Campion said he was 'regularly out with policing teams' and will be out today (Friday) in Worcester with Supt Rebecca Love and 'will likely visit the SNT from Dines Green as part of this'.

He said: “I am currently running a consultation on my police estates strategy in order to seek feedback from communities, prior to making any decisions.

"There are no immediate plans to close Dines Green police station, but alternative options are being considered as part of this consultation stage.

"Unfortunately, this has become “a storm in a teacup”, whipped up by Councillor Udall in his seemingly never-ending search for publicity.”