Rhuthun’s refurbished police station has come back on line. It was open to the public on Saturday, following its closure for remodelling from early July. During the work, there’s been a temporary station on the fire station forecourt.It’s gratifying to see that the North Wales police have chosen to refurbish, rather than rebuild on some out-of-town plot. A strong police presence is good for the town. The station at Dinbych is now remote from the town centre, albeit within walking distance, while you wouldn’t chose to walk to St Asaph’s new one. In fairness, Dinbych’s old station was condemned.
What are police stations for, these days? When you can report an incident easily via mobile phone, police stations aren’t for that. There are some 12 bobbies based in Rhuthun and generally about two on at a time. If they’re engaged in front line work, neither are likely to be at the desk (seen left, during the week before the station reopened). No, these days, police stations act more as a base for officers than a public desk. Gone these days are the desk sergeants in stations such as Rhuthun’s.
And that then leads onto a novel collaboration between the police and county council. At some time in the new year, you will be able to conduct routine police business via the foyer at county hall. We understand that modern telematics and opening hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. will mean that existing council employees will act as a post box for routine police business. The system should make policing as accessible as it was 20 years ago.
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Police